Sabah: population, income, jobs, GDP, poverty, hospital beds and schools
Sabah is a state of Malaysia, number 3 of 16 by population. Sabah had an estimated 3,767,000 residents in mid-2026, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia. That is 3rd most populous among the 13 states and 3 federal territories and 11.0% of the 34.39 million people in Malaysia.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Sabah: The average household in Sabah had an income of RM6,498 a month in 2024 (ringgit, Household Income and Expenditure Survey), 6th lowest among the 16 areas. It was RM6,171 in 2022, a rise of 5.3%, which ranks 7th slowest for growth among the 16 areas.
- Health in Sabah: Sabah had 5,097 beds in public (government) hospitals in 2024, according to the Ministry of Health, which is 9.8% of the 52,048 public beds in Malaysia (11.0% of the population). Private hospitals are not included.
- Education in Sabah: Sabah had 1,298 government primary and secondary schools in mid-2025 according to the Ministry of Education, 12.7% of the 10,238 in Malaysia; they are made up of 1,075 primary and 223 secondary schools. Private and international schools are not included.
- Poverty and living standards in Sabah: The absolute poverty rate in Sabah was 17.7% of households in 2024 (households with income below the national poverty line), the highest among the 16 areas.
How fast is the population of Sabah growing?
Sabah grew by 0.3% between mid-2025 and mid-2026 (3,754,500 to 3,767,000 people), which is 5th slowest among the 16 areas; Malaysia as a whole grew 0.5%. Since the 2020 census-based count of 3,418,800, the population has changed by +10.2% (Malaysia +6.0%).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow many children and old people live in Sabah?
22.9% of people in Sabah are aged under 15 and 6.5% are aged 65 or over (2026 estimate). The under-15 share is 6th highest and the 65-plus share is 3rd lowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is the ethnic make-up of Sabah?
By the Department of Statistics' 2026 estimate, 64.9% of residents of Sabah are Bumiputera, 6.4% Chinese and 0.2% Indian (Malaysian citizens); the remaining 28.6% are other citizens and non-citizens.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow many foreigners live in Sabah?
Non-citizens make up 27.3% of the estimated population of Sabah in 2026 (1,030,000 people), the highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow many men and women live in Sabah?
In 2026 Sabah is estimated to have 109 men for every 100 women (1,962,800 men, 1,804,200 women).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow states are governed in Malaysia
States (13) and federal territories (3: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan). State assemblies elected; chief minister (menteri besar) from the majority. Federal territories run by a federal ministry with no elected assembly. States control land, local government and Islamic affairs.
Every tier of government in Malaysia
Other states of Malaysia
- Selangor 7,454,200
- Johor 4,224,300
- Perak 2,577,900
- Sarawak 2,539,800
- Kedah 2,237,400
- Kuala Lumpur 2,082,300
- Kelantan 1,925,300
- Penang 1,808,300
- Pahang 1,686,200
- Terengganu 1,260,900
- Negeri Sembilan 1,248,500
- Melaka 1,057,400
- Perlis 297,300
- Putrajaya 121,400
- Labuan 101,100
Up a level: Malaysia · government and power in Malaysia · cities
Sources
- Ministry of Health Malaysia: Hospital Beds by State and Hospital Type: public sector hospital beds, 2015-2024 (Health Informatics Centre records), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 97cb4cd999b5…)
- 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…)
- Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM): Population Table: States, 1970-2026 by sex, age group and ethnicity (census-adjusted in census years, mid-year estimates otherwise), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a3ac1a8831a4…)
- Ministry of Education Malaysia: Public Education Institutions by District: government primary and secondary schools (EMIS) and public higher education institutions, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22a8ac4b1fa4…)
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