Poverty and living standards in Sarawak, Malaysia: official figures
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.
Has poverty in Sarawak gone down?
Poverty in Sarawak fell between the 2022 and 2024 household surveys: 10.8% of households were below the poverty line in 2022 and 8.4% in 2024, a change of -2.4 percentage points.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Sarawak?
Income inequality in Sarawak, measured by the Gini coefficient of household income, was 0.361 in 2024 (0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality), 3rd most unequal among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyIs income inequality in Sarawak getting better or worse?
The Gini coefficient of household income in Sarawak fell from 0.382 in 2022 to 0.361 in 2024, so income inequality narrowed.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow much of their income do households in Sarawak spend?
Households in Sarawak spent on average 62% of their income in 2024 (RM4,281 out of RM6,947 a month), a share that ranks 5th lowest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyWhy is average income higher than median income in Sarawak?
The mean household income in Sarawak is 26% higher than the median (RM6,947 against RM5,504 a month in 2024); the gap ranks 7th widest among the 16 areas.
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) · saved copyHow Sarawak compares with other states
Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) (2024)
Sarawak ranks 4 of 16, highest first. Share of households with income below the national poverty line.
| Rank | Region | Absolute poverty rate, 2024 (% of households) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sabah | 17.7% |
| 2 | Kelantan | 11.5% |
| 3 | Kedah | 8.4% |
| 4 | Sarawak | 8.4% |
| 5 | Perak | 6.9% |
| 6 | Pahang | 5.9% |
| 7 | Terengganu | 5.8% |
Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 (2024)
Sarawak ranks 3 of 16, highest first. Gini coefficient of household income: 0 is perfect equality, 1 is maximum inequality.
| Rank | Region | Income inequality (Gini coefficient), 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sabah | 0.405 |
| 2 | Kuala Lumpur | 0.375 |
| 3 | Sarawak | 0.361 |
| 4 | Kelantan | 0.356 |
| 5 | Johor | 0.348 |
| 6 | Negeri Sembilan | 0.343 |
| 7 | Melaka | 0.337 |
More on Sarawak: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Malaysia
Sources
- 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…)
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