Poverty and living standards in Perak, Malaysia: official figures
The absolute poverty rate in Perak was 6.9% of households in 2024 (households with income below the national poverty line), 5th highest among the 16 areas.
Has poverty in Perak gone down?
Poverty in Perak fell between the 2022 and 2024 household surveys: 7.5% of households were below the poverty line in 2022 and 6.9% in 2024, a change of -0.6 percentage points.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Perak?
Income inequality in Perak, measured by the Gini coefficient of household income, was 0.298 in 2024 (0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality), 2nd most equal among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyIs income inequality in Perak getting better or worse?
The Gini coefficient of household income in Perak fell from 0.368 in 2022 to 0.298 in 2024, so income inequality narrowed.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow much of their income do households in Perak spend?
Households in Perak spent on average 69% of their income in 2024 (RM4,232 out of RM6,173 a month), a share that ranks 6th highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhy is average income higher than median income in Perak?
The mean household income in Perak is 32% higher than the median (RM6,173 against RM4,687 a month in 2024); the gap ranks 2nd widest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow Perak compares with other states
Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) (2024)
Perak ranks 5 of 16, highest first. Share of households with income below the national poverty line.
| Rank | Region | Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Kelantan | 11.5% |
| 3 | Kedah | 8.4% |
| 4 | Sarawak | 8.4% |
| 5 | Perak | 6.9% |
| 6 | Pahang | 5.9% |
| 7 | Terengganu | 5.8% |
| 8 | Negeri Sembilan | 4.0% |
Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 (2024)
Perak ranks 15 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 Perak: 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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