Poverty and living standards in Penang, Malaysia: official figures
The absolute poverty rate in Penang was 1.9% of households in 2024 (households with income below the national poverty line), 4th lowest among the 16 areas.
Has poverty in Penang gone down?
Poverty in Penang fell between the 2022 and 2024 household surveys: 2.0% of households were below the poverty line in 2022 and 1.9% in 2024, a change of -0.1 percentage points.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Penang?
Income inequality in Penang, measured by the Gini coefficient of household income, was 0.311 in 2024 (0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality), 3rd most equal among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyIs income inequality in Penang getting better or worse?
The Gini coefficient of household income in Penang fell from 0.371 in 2022 to 0.311 in 2024, so income inequality narrowed.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow much of their income do households in Penang spend?
Households in Penang spent on average 64% of their income in 2024 (RM5,850 out of RM9,152 a month), a share that ranks 7th lowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhy is average income higher than median income in Penang?
The mean household income in Penang is 24% higher than the median (RM9,152 against RM7,386 a month in 2024); the gap ranks 7th narrowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow Penang compares with other states
Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) (2024)
Penang ranks 13 of 16, highest first. Share of households with income below the national poverty line.
| Rank | Region | Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Melaka | 3.0% |
| 11 | Johor | 2.5% |
| 12 | Labuan | 2.0% |
| 13 | Penang | 1.9% |
| 14 | Kuala Lumpur | 1.0% |
| 15 | Selangor | 0.9% |
| 16 | Putrajaya | 0.2% |
Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 (2024)
Penang ranks 14 of 16, highest first. Gini coefficient of household income: 0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality.
| Rank | Region | Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Selangor | 0.332 |
| 11 | Labuan | 0.327 |
| 12 | Putrajaya | 0.324 |
| 13 | Pahang | 0.319 |
| 14 | Penang | 0.311 |
| 15 | Perak | 0.298 |
| 16 | Terengganu | 0.263 |
More on Penang: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Malaysia
Sources
- Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM): Household Income and Expenditure Survey by state, 2022 and 2024: mean and median household income, mean household expenditure, Gini coefficient, absolute poverty rate, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2006002bbfb2…)
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