Economy, jobs and prices in Perlis, Malaysia: official figures

The average household in Perlis had an income of RM5,996 a month in 2024 (ringgit, Household Income and Expenditure Survey), 3rd lowest among the 16 areas. It was RM5,664 in 2022, a rise of 5.9%, which ranks 8th slowest for growth among the 16 areas.

Mean household income

RM5,996 a month

2024

Unemployment rate

3.9%

2025

GDP (constant 2015 prices)

RM6,676 million

2025

What is the median household income in Perlis?

The median household in Perlis earned RM4,950 a month in 2024, so half of households had less than that. The median was RM4,713 in 2022; it is 5th lowest among the 16 areas.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

How much do households spend in Perlis?

Households in Perlis spent RM4,084 a month on average in 2024, up from RM3,834 in 2022 (6.5% more), which is 4th lowest among the 16 areas.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Perlis?

The unemployment rate in Perlis was 3.9% in 2025 (Labour Force Survey), 3rd highest among the 16 areas; the figure for Malaysia as a whole was 3.0%. In 2024 it was 4.1%.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

How many people are employed in Perlis?

About 128,900 people in Perlis were in work in 2025, out of a labour force of 134,100 (employed plus unemployed). That is 0.8% of all employed people in Malaysia; in 2019 the number was 108,500 (+18.8%).

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

What is the labour force participation rate in Perlis?

62.3% of people aged 15 to 64 in Perlis were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in 2025, 3rd lowest among the 16 areas; it was 64.7% in 2019. For every 100 people of working age, 59.9 were in work (the employment-to-population ratio).

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

How many women work in Perlis?

In Perlis in 2025, 47.9% of women were in the labour force against 76.9% of men, and the unemployment rate was 6.2% for women and 2.5% for men. Female participation is 4th lowest among the 16 areas.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

Has unemployment in Perlis gone up or down?

Unemployment in Perlis rose from 3.3% in 2019 to 3.9% in 2025; the 2020 pandemic year saw 4.3%.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

How big is the economy of Perlis?

The economy of Perlis produced RM6,676 million of output in 2025, measured as GDP at constant 2015 prices (inflation removed). That is 0.4% of Malaysia's GDP and the smallest of the 16 areas.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

How fast is the economy of Perlis growing?

Real GDP in Perlis grew 2.0% in 2025 against 5.2% for Malaysia as a whole, which is 3rd slowest among the 16 areas. Since 2023 the economy has grown 5% in real terms (Malaysia 11%).

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

What is GDP per person in Perlis?

GDP per resident in Perlis was about RM22,477 in 2025 (GDP at constant 2015 prices divided by the mid-year population), 2nd lowest among the 16 areas; the average across Malaysia was RM50,758.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

What are the main industries in Perlis?

The largest sector of the economy of Perlis is services, at 72.5% of GDP before import duties in 2025. The rest: agriculture 16.7%, mining and quarrying 0.5%, manufacturing 7.8%, construction 2.4%.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

How important is manufacturing in Perlis?

Manufacturing contributed 7.8% of GDP in Perlis in 2025 (RM512 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 5th lowest among the 16 areas; real manufacturing output grew 4.2% in the year.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

How big is the services sector in Perlis?

Services (trade, transport, finance, government and similar) made up 72.5% of GDP in Perlis in 2025, a share that ranks 4th highest among the 16 areas, and grew 3.1% in real terms in the year.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

How important is agriculture in Perlis?

Agriculture accounted for 16.7% of GDP in Perlis in 2025 (RM1,099 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 3rd highest among the 16 areas.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

How important is mining and oil and gas in Perlis?

Mining and quarrying (including oil and gas) accounted for 0.5% of GDP in Perlis in 2025.

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

How Perlis compares with other states

Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)

Perlis ranks 14 of 16, highest first. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2024; ringgit (RM) per household per month.

Rank	Region	Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit)
10	Sarawak	RM6,947
11	Sabah	RM6,498
12	Perak	RM6,173
13	Pahang	RM6,066
14	Perlis	RM5,996
15	Kedah	RM5,793
16	Kelantan	RM5,265

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)

Perlis ranks 12 of 16, highest first. Half of households earn less than this.

Rank	Region	Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit)
9	Negeri Sembilan	RM5,591
10	Sarawak	RM5,504
11	Pahang	RM4,975
12	Perlis	RM4,950
13	Kedah	RM4,895
14	Sabah	RM4,890
15	Perak	RM4,687

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)

Perlis ranks 13 of 16, highest first. Household expenditure, ringgit per household per month.

Rank	Region	Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit)
10	Pahang	RM4,368
11	Sarawak	RM4,281
12	Perak	RM4,232
13	Perlis	RM4,084
14	Kedah	RM4,028
15	Kelantan	RM3,825
16	Sabah	RM3,547

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

Unemployment rate, 2025 (%) (2025)

Perlis ranks 3 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average; share of the labour force without work.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, 2025 (%)
1	Sabah	7.2%
2	Labuan	6.3%
3	Perlis	3.9%
4	Kelantan	3.5%
5	Perak	3.5%
6	Sarawak	3.2%
7	Negeri Sembilan	2.8%

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

Labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)

Perlis ranks 14 of 16, highest first. Share of people aged 15 to 64 in the labour force (employed or looking for work), per the Labour Force Survey.

Rank	Region	Labour force participation rate, 2025 (%)
10	Perak	67.0%
11	Negeri Sembilan	66.4%
12	Kedah	66.0%
13	Pahang	65.4%
14	Perlis	62.3%
15	Terengganu	60.8%
16	Kelantan	58.1%

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

Employed people, 2025 (thousands) (2025)

Perlis ranks 14 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average.

Rank	Region	Employed people, 2025 (thousands)
10	Kelantan	695,800
11	Negeri Sembilan	552,500
12	Melaka	521,200
13	Terengganu	487,800
14	Perlis	128,900
15	Putrajaya	61,300
16	Labuan	44,400

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)

Perlis ranks 13 of 16, highest first.

Rank	Region	Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%)
10	Perak	50.9%
11	Kedah	50.1%
12	Labuan	49.9%
13	Perlis	47.9%
14	Pahang	47.8%
15	Kelantan	43.8%
16	Terengganu	42.7%

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices) (2025)

Perlis ranks 16 of 16, highest first. Real GDP at constant 2015 prices (so inflation is removed).

Rank	Region	GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices)
10	Negeri Sembilan	RM55,767 million
11	Melaka	RM50,286 million
12	Terengganu	RM40,597 million
13	Kelantan	RM29,776 million
14	Putrajaya	RM14,366 million
15	Labuan	RM8,700 million
16	Perlis	RM6,676 million

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024) (2025)

Perlis ranks 14 of 16, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024)
10	Sarawak	3.6%
11	Pahang	3.2%
12	Melaka	3.0%
13	Negeri Sembilan	2.6%
14	Perlis	2.0%
15	Labuan	1.7%
16	Terengganu	1.6%

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices) (2025)

Perlis ranks 15 of 16, highest first. GDP divided by the mid-year 2025 population estimate.

Rank	Region	GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices)
10	Johor	RM40,662
11	Perak	RM35,562
12	Terengganu	RM32,587
13	Kedah	RM25,281
14	Sabah	RM23,645
15	Perlis	RM22,477
16	Kelantan	RM15,615

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%) (2025)

Perlis ranks 12 of 16, highest first. Share of GDP before import duties.

Rank	Region	Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%)
9	Perak	21.2%
10	Pahang	20.8%
11	Labuan	15.9%
12	Perlis	7.8%
13	Sabah	7.3%
14	Kelantan	4.7%
15	Kuala Lumpur	2.6%

Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copy

More on Perlis: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Malaysia

Sources

Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM): GDP by state, supply side, at constant 2015 prices (RM million) by sector, 2015-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0478e221408f…)
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…)
Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM): Labour Force Survey by state and sex, annual: labour force, employed, unemployed, participation and unemployment rates, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9c83959fa3e0…)

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