KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has made significant progress in eradicating hardcore poverty, which has now been reduced to just 0.09%, according to the latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2024, announced today by the Statistics Department (DOSM).
Economy Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan highlighted the achievement as a testament to the effectiveness of government programmes aimed at raising household incomes and strengthening economic resilience across the country.
“Malaysia has reached a key milestone where hardcore poverty is almost eradicated. This is a significant achievement, thanks to initiatives that empower communities and improve their living standards,” he said during the launch of the report at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
The data revealed that Malaysia’s average monthly household income has also shown steady improvement, rising to RM9,155 in 2024, a 3.8% increase from RM8,479 in 2022 and an even more notable rise from RM7,901 in 2019.
The report further indicated a decrease in absolute poverty to 5.1% in 2024, down from 6.2% in 2022. The Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, also narrowed, from 0.404 in 2022 to 0.390 in 2024, reflecting positive trends in the distribution of wealth across the population.
The minister stressed that poverty eradication efforts must extend beyond temporary relief measures and focus on sustainable solutions.
“The strategy must focus on increasing social mobility, providing support to individuals dealing with rising living costs, and enhancing the overall quality of life for all Malaysians,” he added.
The findings also revealed that six states—Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Johor, Pulau Pinang, and Labuan—reported median household incomes higher than the national average, with Kuala Lumpur leading at RM10,802.
Pulau Pinang experienced the highest annual growth in median income at 6.4%, while Perak recorded the lowest growth at 2.1%.
Income distribution trends have shown gradual improvement, with the B40 group (the bottom 40% of income earners) now earning up to RM5,859 per month, while the M40 group (middle 40%) earns between RM5,860 and RM12,679. The top 20% (T20) earn RM12,680 or more.
“The government’s continued efforts under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) are focused on ensuring that poverty is tackled comprehensively and that growth benefits all communities, regardless of race, religion, or region,” said Amir Hamzah.
Looking ahead, the government remains committed to fostering inclusive growth and ensuring that no Malaysian is left behind, with ongoing measures aimed at tackling social inequality and improving the nation’s overall prosperity. — October 8, 2025