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

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.

Mean household income

RM6,498 a month

2024

Unemployment rate

7.2%

2025

GDP (constant 2015 prices)

RM88,774 million

2025

What is the median household income in Sabah?

The median household in Sabah earned RM4,890 a month in 2024, so half of households had less than that. The median was RM4,577 in 2022; it is 3rd lowest among the 16 areas.

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

How much do households spend in Sabah?

Households in Sabah spent RM3,547 a month on average in 2024, up from RM3,342 in 2022 (6.1% more), which is the lowest among the 16 areas.

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

What is the unemployment rate in Sabah?

The unemployment rate in Sabah was 7.2% in 2025 (Labour Force Survey), the highest among the 16 areas; the figure for Malaysia as a whole was 3.0%. In 2024 it was 7.6%.

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

How many people are employed in Sabah?

About 1,731,300 people in Sabah were in work in 2025, out of a labour force of 1,865,700 (employed plus unemployed). That is 10.4% of all employed people in Malaysia; in 2019 the number was 1,908,600 (-9.3%).

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

What is the labour force participation rate in Sabah?

70.3% of people aged 15 to 64 in Sabah were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in 2025, 7th highest among the 16 areas; it was 70.0% in 2019. For every 100 people of working age, 65.3 were in work (the employment-to-population ratio).

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

How many women work in Sabah?

In Sabah in 2025, 55.2% of women were in the labour force against 84.1% of men, and the unemployment rate was 6.8% for women and 7.4% for men. Female participation is 6th highest among the 16 areas.

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

Has unemployment in Sabah gone up or down?

Unemployment in Sabah rose from 5.8% in 2019 to 7.2% in 2025; the 2020 pandemic year saw 8.2%.

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

How big is the economy of Sabah?

The economy of Sabah produced RM88,774 million of output in 2025, measured as GDP at constant 2015 prices (inflation removed). That is 5.1% of Malaysia's GDP and 7th largest of the 16 areas.

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

How fast is the economy of Sabah growing?

Real GDP in Sabah grew 5.1% in 2025 against 5.2% for Malaysia as a whole, which is 6th fastest among the 16 areas. Since 2023 the economy has grown 6% in real terms (Malaysia 11%).

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

What is GDP per person in Sabah?

GDP per resident in Sabah was about RM23,645 in 2025 (GDP at constant 2015 prices divided by the mid-year population), 3rd 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 Sabah?

The largest sector of the economy of Sabah is services, at 52.3% of GDP before import duties in 2025. The rest: agriculture 14.0%, mining and quarrying 22.1%, manufacturing 7.3%, construction 4.4%.

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

How important is manufacturing in Sabah?

Manufacturing contributed 7.3% of GDP in Sabah in 2025 (RM6,434 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 4th lowest among the 16 areas; real manufacturing output grew 5.0% in the year.

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

How big is the services sector in Sabah?

Services (trade, transport, finance, government and similar) made up 52.3% of GDP in Sabah in 2025, a share that ranks 3rd lowest among the 16 areas, and grew 4.5% in real terms in the year.

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

How important is agriculture in Sabah?

Agriculture accounted for 14.0% of GDP in Sabah in 2025 (RM12,369 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 4th highest among the 16 areas.

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

How important is mining and oil and gas in Sabah?

Mining and quarrying (including oil and gas) accounted for 22.1% of GDP in Sabah in 2025.

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

How Sabah compares with other states

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

Sabah ranks 11 of 16, highest first. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2024; ringgit (RM) per household per month.

Rank	Region	Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit)
8	Terengganu	RM7,627
9	Negeri Sembilan	RM7,305
10	Sarawak	RM6,947
11	Sabah	RM6,498
12	Perak	RM6,173
13	Pahang	RM6,066
14	Perlis	RM5,996

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

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

Sabah ranks 14 of 16, highest first. Half of households earn less than this.

Rank	Region	Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit)
10	Sarawak	RM5,504
11	Pahang	RM4,975
12	Perlis	RM4,950
13	Kedah	RM4,895
14	Sabah	RM4,890
15	Perak	RM4,687
16	Kelantan	RM4,083

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

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

Sabah ranks 16 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)

Sabah ranks 1 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)

Sabah ranks 7 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 (%)
4	Penang	72.2%
5	Johor	72.0%
6	Melaka	70.7%
7	Sabah	70.3%
8	Sarawak	69.8%
9	Labuan	67.9%
10	Perak	67.0%

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

Employed people, 2025 (thousands) (2025)

Sabah ranks 3 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average.

Rank	Region	Employed people, 2025 (thousands)
1	Selangor	4,048,200
2	Johor	2,124,300
3	Sabah	1,731,300
4	Sarawak	1,218,100
5	Kuala Lumpur	1,166,400
6	Perak	1,151,400
7	Kedah	961,800

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

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

Sabah ranks 6 of 16, highest first.

Rank	Region	Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%)
3	Kuala Lumpur	66.9%
4	Melaka	58.3%
5	Penang	58.3%
6	Sabah	55.2%
7	Sarawak	52.6%
8	Johor	51.1%
9	Negeri Sembilan	51.1%

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

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

Sabah ranks 7 of 16, highest first. Real GDP at constant 2015 prices (so inflation is removed).

Rank	Region	GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices)
4	Sarawak	RM153,511 million
5	Penang	RM130,283 million
6	Perak	RM91,529 million
7	Sabah	RM88,774 million
8	Pahang	RM70,962 million
9	Kedah	RM56,303 million
10	Negeri Sembilan	RM55,767 million

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

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

Sabah ranks 6 of 16, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024)
3	Selangor	6.3%
4	Perak	5.7%
5	Kuala Lumpur	5.2%
6	Sabah	5.1%
7	Putrajaya	4.8%
8	Kelantan	4.1%
9	Kedah	4.1%

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

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

Sabah ranks 14 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)

Sabah ranks 13 of 16, highest first. Share of GDP before import duties.

Rank	Region	Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%)
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%
16	Putrajaya	0.0%

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

More on Sabah: 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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