In 2023, the average mean monthly salary in Malaysia was ***** Malaysian ringgit, a slight increase from ***** Malaysian ringgit in the previous year. The average monthly salary in Malaysia varies greatly, depending on the education level, the employment sector, and especially between urban and rural areas.

Key information about Malaysia Household Income per Capita

• Malaysia Annual Household Income per Capita reached 5,731.680 USD in Dec 2022, compared with the previous value of 5,761.586 USD in Dec 2019.
• Malaysia Annual Household Income per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 2002 to Dec 2022, with an averaged value of 4,426.922 USD.
• The data reached an all-time high of 5,761.586 USD in Dec 2019 and a record low of 2,100.510 USD in Dec 2002.
• In the latest reports, Retail Sales of Malaysia grew 12.890 % YoY in Apr 2023.

CEIC calculates Annnual Household Income per Capita from Monthly Average Household Income multiplied by 12, Number of Households and Total Population and converts it into USD. The Department of Statistics provides Average Household Income in local currency and Total Population based on 2020 Census. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission provides Number of Households. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Population prior to 2020 is based on 2010 Census. Population prior to 2010 is based on 2000 Census. Annual Household Income per Capita prior to 2004 is calculated from Number of Household based on 2000 Census.

In 2023, Malaysian employees between the ages of 40 and 44 years old earned the highest average monthly salary, at ***** Malaysian ringgit. With a retirement age of just 60 years old, Malaysian workers could look forward to earning more monthly average wage starting from around 40 years old. Economic outlook Malaysia is one of the biggest and strongest economies of South-East Asia, with a relatively low unemployment rate. The average monthly salary steadily increased from ***** Malaysian ringgit in 2014 to ***** Malaysian ringgit in 2023. Employees with a university degree could expect to earn almost twice as much. Can wages keep up with the cost of living? However, when seen in the context of rising living costs, wages in Malaysia have not been able to keep up. Despite having a relatively low inflation rate, prices have still gone up. Malaysians spent more than ** percent of their income on housing and food. In May 2022, the Malaysian government increased the minimum wage to 1,500 Malaysian ringgit monthly, or 7.21 Malaysian ringgit hourly, in the hopes of easing the financial burdens of its citizens.

In 2022, the highest average monthly household income was in the Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, with around ****** Malaysian ringgit. Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, the capital city and also a federal territory, came second with around ****** Malaysian ringgit in monthly average household income.

Wages in Malaysia increased to 3045 MYR/Month in 2024 from 2900 MYR/Month in 2023. This dataset provides - Malaysia Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Malaysia Household Income: Mean: Chinese data was reported at 8.750 MYR th in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.666 MYR th for 2014. Malaysia Household Income: Mean: Chinese data is updated yearly, averaging 3.173 MYR th from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2016, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.750 MYR th in 2016 and a record low of 0.394 MYR th in 1970. Malaysia Household Income: Mean: Chinese data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H024: Household Income: Mean (Annual).

Key information about Malaysia Monthly Earnings

• Malaysia Monthly Earnings stood at 793 USD in Jan 2025, compared with the previous figure of 831 USD in Dec 2024
• Malaysia Monthly Earnings data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2013 to Jan 2025, with an average number of 793 USD
• The data reached the an all-time high of 927 USD in Mar 2018 and a record low of 684 USD in Sep 2015

CEIC calculates Monthly Earnings from monthly Payroll and monthly Employment, and converts it into USD. The Department of Statistics provides Payroll and Employment in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Monthly Earnings cover 251 industries in Manufacturing sector. Monthly Earnings prior to January 2019 cover 155 industries out of a total 259 industries in Manufacturing sector.


Further information about Malaysia Monthly Earnings

• In the latest reports, Malaysia Population reached 34 million people in Dec 2024
• Unemployment Rate of Malaysia dropped to 3 % in Jan 2025
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate remained the same rate at 71 % in Jan 2025

In 2022, ethnic Chinese households had the highest mean monthly household income in Malaysia, at around 10.66 thousand Malaysian ringgit. This was more than three thousand ringgit higher than Bumiputera households. Despite the implementation of affirmative action through Article 153 of the Malaysian constitution, the economic position of the Bumiputera vis-à-vis other ethnicities still left much room for improvement.

Historical policies, ethnicity, and the urban-rural divide The Bumiputera make up the majority of the Malaysian population, yet have one of the lowest average monthly household incomes in Malaysia. This economic disparity could be explained by the effects of colonial policies that kept the Bumiputera largely in the countryside. This resulted in an urban-rural divide that was characterized by ethnicity, with the immigrant Chinese and Indian laborers concentrated in the urban centers, a demographic pattern that is still evident today.

There was a considerable difference in urban and rural household incomes in Malaysia, with urban household income being around 3.6 thousand ringgit more than rural households. This was largely due to the fact that wages in urban areas had to keep up with the higher cost of living there. This thus impacted the average monthly incomes of the largely rural-based Bumiputera and the largely urban-based ethnic Chinese. This visible wealth inequality has led to racial tensions in Malaysia, and it is still one of the problem in the country amidst a new government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was elected in 2022.

Malaysia Household Income: Mean: Total data was reported at 8.479 MYR th in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.901 MYR th for 2019. Malaysia Household Income: Mean: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 2.539 MYR th from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2022, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.479 MYR th in 2022 and a record low of 0.264 MYR th in 1970. Malaysia Household Income: Mean: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H046: Household Income: Mean (Annual). Starting 1989, data is based on Malaysian citizens.2. Data for 1970, 1974 & 1976 refer to Peninsular Malaysia only.

Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Top 20%: Bumiputera data was reported at 11,819.000 MYR in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 10,301.000 MYR for 2014. Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Top 20%: Bumiputera data is updated yearly, averaging 11,060.000 MYR from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2016, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,819.000 MYR in 2016 and a record low of 10,301.000 MYR in 2014. Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Top 20%: Bumiputera data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H033: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Monthly Gross Income: Household Group: Median and Mean: by Ethnic Group.

Wages in Manufacturing in Malaysia increased to 3470 MYR/Month in May from 3460 MYR/Month in April of 2025. This dataset provides - Malaysia Wages in Manufacturing - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This dataset shows the Mean Monthly Household Gross Income by state, 2002 - 2020e, Malaysia. Nota: n.a. Not applicable e Refers to estimated value based on this study Source : DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS MALAYSIA No. of Views : 316

In 2023, the average mean monthly salary for women in Malaysia was ***** Malaysian ringgit, an increase compared to the previous year. In the same year, the difference between the average monthly salary for female employees and male employees in Malaysia was around *** Malaysian ringgit.

Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Kedah data was reported at 3,811.000 MYR in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,451.000 MYR for 2014. Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Kedah data is updated yearly, averaging 1,681.500 MYR from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,811.000 MYR in 2016 and a record low of 990.000 MYR in 1995. Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Median: Kedah data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H031: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Monthly Gross Income: Median and Mean: by State.

Malaysia Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data was reported at 16.500 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.000 % for 2018. Malaysia Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data is updated yearly, averaging 19.250 % from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2021, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.100 % in 1997 and a record low of 15.900 % in 2013. Malaysia Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The percentage of people in the population who live in households whose per capita income or consumption is below half of the median income or consumption per capita. The median is measured at 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the Poverty and Inequality Platform (http://www.pip.worldbank.org). For some countries, medians are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

In 2022, the average monthly income of urban households was around ***** Malaysian ringgit, an increase compared to around ***** in the previous year. The mean monthly income of urban households in Malaysia has been increasing over the years.

Abstract

The Household Income/Basic Amenities Survey (HIS/BA) 2009 is the latest income survey carried out by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia after the last survey conducted in 2007. The survey is implemented twice in five years. The publication provides data on income, poverty and basic amenities at national and state levels for citizens only.

The main objectives of the survey are as follows: - collect information on income distribution pattern of households;m - identify the poverty groups; and - to identify the accessibility of basic amenities by poor households.

Data from the survey are used by the government as inputs for the formulation of national development plan especially in preparing the Tenth Malaysia Plan.

Geographic coverage

The survey covered both urban and rural areas in Malaysia except the Orang Asli Enumeration Block (EBs) in Peninsular Malaysia. Usually the EBs that lie in the interior areas are not included in the sampling frames. However, for the latest survey, the Department expanded its coverage to include these EBs.

Analysis unit

• Households;
• Individuals.

Universe

The survey covered households staying in private living quarters (LQ). The institutional households, that is, those living in hostels, hotels, hospitals, old folks homes, military and police barracks, prisons, welfare homes and other institutions were excluded from the coverage of the survey.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling frame

The frame used for the selection of sample for HIS/BA 2009 was based on the National Household Sampling Frame (NHSF) which was made up of EBs created for the 2000 Population and Housing Census. EBs are geographical contiguous areas of land with identifiable boundaries. On average, each EB contains about 80 to 120 living quarters. Generally, all EBs are formed within gazetted boundaries i.e. within administrative districts, mukim or local authority areas.

The EBs in the sampling frame are also classified by urban and rural areas. Urban areas are as defined in the 2000 Population and Housing Census. Urban areas are gazetted areas with their adjoining built-up areas which had a combined population of 10,000 or more at the time of the 2000 Population and Housing Census. All other gazetted areas with a population of less than 10,000 persons and non-gazetted areas are classified as rural.

Built-up areas are defined as areas contiguous to a gazetted area and have at least 60 per cent of their population (aged 10 years and over) engaged in nonagricultural activities as well as having modern toilet facilities in their housing units.

Urbanisation is a dynamic process and keeps changing in line with progress and development. Thus the urban areas for the 1991 and 2000 censuses do not necessarily refer to the same areas, as areas fulfilling the criteria of urban continue to increase or grow over time.

Sample design

A two-stage stratified sampling design was adopted and the levels of stratification are as follows: i) Primary stratum - made up of states in Malaysia ii) Secondary stratum - made up of urban and rural as defined in para 6.5 and formed within primary stratum

Samples are drawn independently within each level of the secondary stratum. The units for first stage sample selection are the EBs while the second stage units are the LQs within the EBs. All households and persons within the selected LQs are canvassed. At every stage of selection, the units are selected systematically with equal probability within each level of the secondary stratum.

Sample size

The sample size required is based on the relative standard error of the previous survey for each stratum and state. Other factors such as cost and availability of staff are also taken into considerations in determining the sample size.

The sampling procedures are more fully described in "Malaysia Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey 2009 - Report" pp. 93-96.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Sampling error estimates

Sampling error is a result of estimating data based on a probability sampling, not on census. Such error in statistics is termed as relative standard error (RSE) and is given in percentage. This is used as an indicator to the precision of the parameter under study. In other words, it reflects the extent of variation with other sample-based estimates. For the HIS/BA 2009, the mean monthly gross household income for Malaysia was RM4,025 with an RSE of 0.63 per cent. In other words, the standard error (SE) is approximately RM25. Assuming that the mean household income is normally distributed, the confidence interval for the estimated mean income can be calculated. Based on a 95 percent confidence level (alpha = 0.05), the mean monthly household income was found to be in the range of RM3,975.75–RM4,074.89 monthly.

Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Mean: Top 20%: Kuala Lumpur data was reported at 26,306.000 MYR in 2016. Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Mean: Top 20%: Kuala Lumpur data is updated yearly, averaging 26,306.000 MYR from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. Malaysia HIBAS: Monthly Gross Income: Mean: Top 20%: Kuala Lumpur data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.H034: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Monthly Gross Income: Household Group: Median and Mean: by State.

Adjusted net national income per capita (current US$) in Malaysia was reported at 7705 USD in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Malaysia - Adjusted net national income per capita - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

This dataset shows the number of Mean Monthly Household Gross Income by ethnicity, 2002 - 2019, Malaysia