Sarawak: population, income, jobs, GDP, poverty, hospital beds and schools

Sarawak is a state of Malaysia, number 5 of 16 by population. Sarawak had an estimated 2,539,800 residents in mid-2026, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia. That is 5th most populous among the 13 states and 3 federal territories and 7.4% of the 34.39 million people in Malaysia.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Sarawak: The average household in Sarawak had an income of RM6,947 a month in 2024 (ringgit, Household Income and Expenditure Survey), 7th lowest among the 16 areas. It was RM6,457 in 2022, a rise of 7.6%, which ranks 7th fastest for growth among the 16 areas.
• Health in Sarawak: Sarawak had 4,189 beds in public (government) hospitals in 2024, according to the Ministry of Health, which is 8.0% of the 52,048 public beds in Malaysia (7.4% of the population). Private hospitals are not included.
• Education in Sarawak: Sarawak had 1,460 government primary and secondary schools in mid-2025 according to the Ministry of Education, 14.3% of the 10,238 in Malaysia; they are made up of 1,266 primary and 194 secondary schools. Private and international schools are not included.
• Poverty and living standards in Sarawak: The absolute poverty rate in Sarawak was 8.4% of households in 2024 (households with income below the national poverty line), joint 3rd highest among the 16 areas.

How 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
• Sabah 3,767,000
• Perak 2,577,900
• 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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