Economy, jobs and prices in Sarawak, Malaysia: official figures
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.
What is the median household income in Sarawak?
The median household in Sarawak earned RM5,504 a month in 2024, so half of households had less than that. The median was RM4,978 in 2022; it is 7th lowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow much do households spend in Sarawak?
Households in Sarawak spent RM4,281 a month on average in 2024, up from RM3,915 in 2022 (9.3% more), which is 6th lowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Sarawak?
The unemployment rate in Sarawak was 3.2% in 2025 (Labour Force Survey), 6th highest among the 16 areas; the figure for Malaysia as a whole was 3.0%. In 2024 it was 3.4%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow many people are employed in Sarawak?
About 1,218,100 people in Sarawak were in work in 2025, out of a labour force of 1,258,600 (employed plus unemployed). That is 7.3% of all employed people in Malaysia; in 2019 the number was 1,304,700 (-6.6%).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Sarawak?
69.8% of people aged 15 to 64 in Sarawak were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in 2025, 8th highest among the 16 areas; it was 68.4% in 2019. For every 100 people of working age, 67.5 were in work (the employment-to-population ratio).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow many women work in Sarawak?
In Sarawak in 2025, 52.6% of women were in the labour force against 85.6% of men, and the unemployment rate was 3.4% for women and 3.1% for men. Female participation is 7th highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHas unemployment in Sarawak gone up or down?
Unemployment in Sarawak rose from 3.1% in 2019 to 3.2% in 2025; the 2020 pandemic year saw 4.3%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow big is the economy of Sarawak?
The economy of Sarawak produced RM153,511 million of output in 2025, measured as GDP at constant 2015 prices (inflation removed). That is 8.8% of Malaysia's GDP and 4th largest of the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Sarawak growing?
Real GDP in Sarawak grew 3.6% in 2025 against 5.2% for Malaysia as a whole, which is 7th slowest among the 16 areas. Since 2023 the economy has grown 8% in real terms (Malaysia 11%).
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat is GDP per person in Sarawak?
GDP per resident in Sarawak was about RM60,703 in 2025 (GDP at constant 2015 prices divided by the mid-year population), 6th highest among the 16 areas; the average across Malaysia was RM50,758.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Sarawak?
The largest sector of the economy of Sarawak is services, at 39.5% of GDP before import duties in 2025. The rest: agriculture 10.2%, mining and quarrying 21.0%, manufacturing 25.0%, construction 4.3%.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow important is manufacturing in Sarawak?
Manufacturing contributed 25.0% of GDP in Sarawak in 2025 (RM38,214 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 8th highest among the 16 areas; real manufacturing output grew 0.1% in the year.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow big is the services sector in Sarawak?
Services (trade, transport, finance, government and similar) made up 39.5% of GDP in Sarawak in 2025, a share that ranks the lowest among the 16 areas, and grew 5.4% in real terms in the year.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow important is agriculture in Sarawak?
Agriculture accounted for 10.2% of GDP in Sarawak in 2025 (RM15,656 million at 2015 prices), a share that ranks 8th highest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow important is mining and oil and gas in Sarawak?
Mining and quarrying (including oil and gas) accounted for 21.0% of GDP in Sarawak in 2025.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow Sarawak compares with other states
Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Sarawak ranks 10 of 16, highest first. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2024; ringgit (RM) per household per month.
| Rank | Region | Mean monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Labuan | RM8,555 |
| 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 |
Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Sarawak ranks 10 of 16, highest first. Half of households earn less than this.
| Rank | Region | Median monthly household income, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Melaka | RM6,891 |
| 8 | Terengganu | RM6,627 |
| 9 | Negeri Sembilan | RM5,591 |
| 10 | Sarawak | RM5,504 |
| 11 | Pahang | RM4,975 |
| 12 | Perlis | RM4,950 |
| 13 | Kedah | RM4,895 |
Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit) (2024)
Sarawak ranks 11 of 16, highest first. Household expenditure, ringgit per household per month.
| Rank | Region | Mean monthly household spending, 2024 (ringgit) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Negeri Sembilan | RM5,115 |
| 9 | Labuan | RM4,497 |
| 10 | Pahang | RM4,368 |
| 11 | Sarawak | RM4,281 |
| 12 | Perak | RM4,232 |
| 13 | Perlis | RM4,084 |
| 14 | Kedah | RM4,028 |
Unemployment rate, 2025 (%) (2025)
Sarawak ranks 6 of 16, highest first. Labour Force Survey annual average; share of the labour force without work.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Perlis | 3.9% |
| 4 | Kelantan | 3.5% |
| 5 | Perak | 3.5% |
| 6 | Sarawak | 3.2% |
| 7 | Negeri Sembilan | 2.8% |
| 8 | Terengganu | 2.8% |
| 9 | Kuala Lumpur | 2.6% |
Labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)
Sarawak ranks 8 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Johor | 72.0% |
| 6 | Melaka | 70.7% |
| 7 | Sabah | 70.3% |
| 8 | Sarawak | 69.8% |
| 9 | Labuan | 67.9% |
| 10 | Perak | 67.0% |
| 11 | Negeri Sembilan | 66.4% |
Employed people, 2025 (thousands) (2025)
Sarawak ranks 4 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 |
Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) (2025)
Sarawak ranks 7 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Female labour force participation rate, 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 10 | Perak | 50.9% |
GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices) (2025)
Sarawak ranks 4 of 16, highest first. Real GDP at constant 2015 prices (so inflation is removed).
| Rank | Region | GDP, 2025 (RM million, constant 2015 prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selangor | RM460,114 million |
| 2 | Kuala Lumpur | RM265,104 million |
| 3 | Johor | RM170,947 million |
| 4 | Sarawak | RM153,511 million |
| 5 | Penang | RM130,283 million |
| 6 | Perak | RM91,529 million |
| 7 | Sabah | RM88,774 million |
Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024) (2025)
Sarawak ranks 10 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2025 (% over 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Putrajaya | 4.8% |
| 8 | Kelantan | 4.1% |
| 9 | Kedah | 4.1% |
| 10 | Sarawak | 3.6% |
| 11 | Pahang | 3.2% |
| 12 | Melaka | 3.0% |
| 13 | Negeri Sembilan | 2.6% |
GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices) (2025)
Sarawak ranks 6 of 16, highest first. GDP divided by the mid-year 2025 population estimate.
| Rank | Region | GDP per resident, 2025 (RM, constant 2015 prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Labuan | RM86,226 |
| 4 | Penang | RM72,207 |
| 5 | Selangor | RM62,105 |
| 6 | Sarawak | RM60,703 |
| 7 | Melaka | RM47,800 |
| 8 | Negeri Sembilan | RM44,833 |
| 9 | Pahang | RM42,320 |
Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%) (2025)
Sarawak ranks 8 of 16, highest first. Share of GDP before import duties.
| Rank | Region | Manufacturing share of GDP, 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Kedah | 30.3% |
| 6 | Selangor | 29.5% |
| 7 | Johor | 28.4% |
| 8 | Sarawak | 25.0% |
| 9 | Perak | 21.2% |
| 10 | Pahang | 20.8% |
| 11 | Labuan | 15.9% |
More on Sarawak: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.