In 2022, the East Malaysian state of Sabah had the highest rate of poverty in Malaysia, with **** percent of the population living below the poverty line. In 2019, Malaysia revised its national poverty line income, increasing it from 980 Malaysian ringgit to 2,208 Malaysian ringgit. Sabah is one of Malaysia's most rural and least developed states.

In 2022, the poverty rate of the urban population of Malaysia was at *** percent, while rural poverty was at ** percent. In 2019, Malaysia revised its national poverty line income, increasing it from 980 Malaysian ringgit to 2,208 Malaysian ringgit. This accounted for the increases in the poverty rate in 2016.

Malaysia Poverty Rates data was reported at 0.400 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.600 % for 2014. Malaysia Poverty Rates data is updated yearly, averaging 7.500 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2016, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.300 % in 1970 and a record low of 0.400 % in 2016. Malaysia Poverty Rates data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G064: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Poverty Rates.

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Malaysia was reported at 6.2 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Malaysia - Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

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).

The average for 2021 based on 5 countries was 3.76 percent. The highest value was in India: 12.9 percent and the lowest value was in Malaysia: 0 percent. The indicator is available from 1963 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Malaysia Poverty Rates: Johor data was reported at 0.000 % in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for 2014. Malaysia Poverty Rates: Johor data is updated yearly, averaging 2.500 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2016, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 45.700 % in 1970 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2016. Malaysia Poverty Rates: Johor data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G064: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Poverty Rates.

Urban poverty rate of Malaysia plummeted by 70.00% from 1.0 % in 2012 to 0.3 % in 2014. Since the 8.70% surge in 2004, urban poverty rate sank by 88.00% in 2014. Urban poverty rate is the percentage of the urban population living below the national urban poverty line.

Poverty rate of Malaysia plummeted by 76.81% from 0.1 % in 2011 to 0.0 % in 2013. Since the 201.88% surge in 2003, poverty rate sank by 97.92% in 2013. Population below $1.90 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.90 a day at 2011 international prices.

The aim of the Human Development Report is to stimulate global, regional and national policy-relevant discussions on issues pertinent to human development. Accordingly, the data in the Report require the highest standards of data quality, consistency, international comparability and transparency. The Human Development Report Office (HDRO) fully subscribes to the Principles governing international statistical activities.

The HDI was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone. The HDI can also be used to question national policy choices, asking how two countries with the same level of GNI per capita can end up with different human development outcomes. These contrasts can stimulate debate about government policy priorities. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and have a decent standard of living. The HDI is the geometric mean of normalized indices for each of the three dimensions.

The 2019 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) data shed light on the number of people experiencing poverty at regional, national and subnational levels, and reveal inequalities across countries and among the poor themselves.Jointly developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford, the 2019 global MPI offers data for 101 countries, covering 76 percent of the global population. The MPI provides a comprehensive and in-depth picture of global poverty – in all its dimensions – and monitors progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 – to end poverty in all its forms. It also provides policymakers with the data to respond to the call of Target 1.2, which is to ‘reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definition'.

This dataset shows the Incidence number of hardcore poverty by state, 2002 - 2012, Malaysia. From 2014, statistics on the incidence of hardcore poverty are not published in the Household Income & Basic Amenities Survey Report. Notes: n.a. Not applicable No. of Views : 155

Malaysia Poverty Rates: Urban data was reported at 0.200 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.300 % for 2014. Malaysia Poverty Rates: Urban data is updated yearly, averaging 3.400 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2016, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.300 % in 1970 and a record low of 0.200 % in 2016. Malaysia Poverty Rates: Urban data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G064: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Poverty Rates.

Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 60% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % data was reported at 0.650 % in 2019. Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 60% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % data is updated yearly, averaging 0.650 % from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2019, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.650 % in 2019 and a record low of 0.650 % in 2019. Proportion of Population Pushed Below the 60% Median Consumption Poverty Line By Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % 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. This indicator shows the fraction of a country’s population experiencing out-of-pocket health impoverishing expenditures, defined as expenditures without which the household they live in would have been above the 60% median consumption but because of the expenditures is below the poverty line. Out-of-pocket health expenditure is defined as any spending incurred by a household when any member uses a health good or service to receive any type of care (preventive, curative, rehabilitative, long-term or palliative care); provided by any type of provider; for any type of disease, illness or health condition; in any type of setting (outpatient, inpatient, at home).;Global Health Observatory. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. (https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/financial-protection);Weighted average;This indicator is related to Sustainable Development Goal 3.8.2 [https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/].

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.

In 2024, there were around **** million Malaysian households in the country, an increase compared to around **** million households in the previous year. The increase in household numbers over the years coincided with the decreasing size of Malaysian households. Importance of households as a unit in society Households form a fundamental unit in society and the decisions taken at the household level shape and affect the economic, social and demographic processes of a country. A household is generally classified as a group of people living in one dwelling, and its members are not necessarily related to one another. Households as economic participants are both consumers of goods and services, and suppliers of labor and capital, whereas its composition and size reflect changing social norms and demographics. How Malaysian households are changing The decrease in the fertility rate in Malaysia mirrored the decrease in household size. In 2022, the average Malaysian household was made up of 3.8 persons, compared to 4.1 in 2016. However, the size of urban households in Malaysia was significantly smaller than rural ones. This could be a contributing factor to the higher poverty rates in rural areas in Malaysia – rural households need to support more members on a significantly lower income than those of urban households.

Malaysia Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 19.900 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 20.500 % for 2018. Malaysia Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 26.550 % from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2021, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.200 % in 1984 and a record low of 19.900 % in 2021. Malaysia Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population 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 poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2017 U.S. dollars and defined as max($2.15, $1.15 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $2.15. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.;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 2023, the urban population in Malaysia reached approximately 27.65 million people. In the last decade, the urban population in Malaysia has increased by more than five million people, indicating an upward trend in urbanization. Rapid urbanization In 2023, approximately 78 percent of Malaysia’s population lived in urban areas and cities. This puts Malaysia as one of Southeast Asia’s most urbanized countries. The metropolitan area of Greater Kuala Lumpur had a population of more than eight million in that year, making it Malaysia’s biggest urban area. However, about twice as many Malaysians lived in cities with half a million inhabitants or less. Urban-rural divide For many Malaysians, urbanization brought about more and better economic opportunities and job prospects. The average monthly income for urban households was more than 3,000 Malaysian ringgit higher than that of rural households. Poverty rates in rural areas were also significantly higher than that in urban areas. Even so, the countryside still holds a nostalgic place in the hearts of Malaysians, encapsulated in the romanticized idea of the ‘kampung’ or Malay village.

Malaysia Hardcore Poverty Rates: Sarawak data was reported at 0.339 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.000 % for 2009. Malaysia Hardcore Poverty Rates: Sarawak data is updated yearly, averaging 1.063 % from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2012, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.990 % in 1984 and a record low of 0.339 % in 2012. Malaysia Hardcore Poverty Rates: Sarawak data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G064: Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey: Poverty Rates.

In 2023, the state of Selangor contributed around **** percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) in Malaysia. Selangor is Malaysia's most populous state, as well as its most developed state. Selangor has the highest standard of living and the lowest poverty rate, out of all the states in Malaysia.

Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data was reported at 0.100 % in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.200 % for 2015. Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.150 % from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2018, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.200 % in 2015 and a record low of 0.100 % in 2018. Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population 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 multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (World Bank) is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Multidimensional Poverty Measure. The Multidimensional Poverty Measure includes three dimensions – monetary poverty, education, and basic infrastructure services – to capture a more complete picture of poverty.;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).