Health in Sarawak, Malaysia: official figures
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.
How many hospital beds per 1,000 people are there in Sarawak?
There were 1.66 public hospital beds for every 1,000 residents of Sarawak in 2024, 5th highest among the 16 areas; the figure for Malaysia was 1.53.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia · saved copyAre there more hospital beds in Sarawak than before?
Public hospital beds in Sarawak rose from 3,944 in 2015 to 4,189 in 2024 (+6.2%, 5th smallest rise among the 16 areas). Per 1,000 residents that is 1.46 in 2015 and 1.66 in 2024.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia · saved copyWho runs the hospitals in Sarawak?
3,709 of the 4,189 public hospital beds in Sarawak (89%) were in hospitals run by the Ministry of Health in 2024 and 480 in special medical institutions such as cancer or heart centres.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia · saved copyDoes Sarawak have enough hospital beds?
Sarawak holds 8.0% of Malaysia's public hospital beds against 7.4% of its people (2024), so it has more beds per resident than the national average of 1.53 per 1,000.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia · saved copyWhich district of Sarawak has the most hospital beds?
Within Sarawak, the district with the most public hospital beds in 2024 was Kuching with 1,385 beds (33% of the 4,189 in the state); the state is split into 39 districts in the Ministry of Health data.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia · saved copyHow Sarawak compares with other states
Public hospital beds per 1,000 residents, 2024 (2024)
Sarawak ranks 5 of 16, highest first. Beds in government hospitals (Ministry of Health, special institutions and other agencies' hospitals); private hospitals are not counted. Divided by the 2024 mid-year population estimate.
| Rank | Region | Public hospital beds per 1,000 residents, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Kuala Lumpur | 2.66 |
| 3 | Perak | 2.34 |
| 4 | Perlis | 1.74 |
| 5 | Sarawak | 1.66 |
| 6 | Terengganu | 1.60 |
| 7 | Negeri Sembilan | 1.59 |
| 8 | Pahang | 1.59 |
Public hospital beds, 2024 (2024)
Sarawak ranks 6 of 16, highest first. Beds in government hospitals at the end of 2024.
| Rank | Region | Public hospital beds, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Kuala Lumpur | 5,498 |
| 4 | Johor | 5,448 |
| 5 | Sabah | 5,097 |
| 6 | Sarawak | 4,189 |
| 7 | Kelantan | 2,987 |
| 8 | Kedah | 2,919 |
| 9 | Pahang | 2,646 |
Change in public hospital beds, 2015 to 2024 (%) (2024)
Sarawak ranks 12 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Change in public hospital beds, 2015 to 2024 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Johor | +9.7% |
| 10 | Sabah | +9.1% |
| 11 | Negeri Sembilan | +8.3% |
| 12 | Sarawak | +6.2% |
| 13 | Perak | +4.5% |
| 14 | Penang | +4.1% |
| 15 | Labuan | +0.0% |
More on Sarawak: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Malaysia
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…)
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