Malaysia's Human Development Index climbs to 0.826 in 2024, reflecting steady national progress: DOSM

The nation recorded improvements in income, health, and education, with Kuala Lumpur leading among the states.

Malaysia’s Human Development Index (MHDI) climbed to 0.826 in 2024, placing the nation in the 'very high human development' category. The latest results were released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) through the Malaysia Human Development Index (MHDI) 2024 Report, marking the third edition since the index was introduced in 2023.

The MHDI looks beyond economic growth to measure how Malaysians are progressing in quality of life and wellbeing. It focuses on three key areas: life expectancy, education, and income.

Dato’ Sri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chief Statistician Malaysia said: "This year’s MHDI results reaffirm Malaysia’s commitment to balanced development. We are not only seeing economic growth, but also meaningful progress in health and education outcomes."

All dimensions show positive growth

Among the three areas measured, the Gross National Income (GNI) Index recorded the highest score at 0.890, followed by the Life Expectancy Index (0.838) and the Education Index (0.755). All three showed year-on-year improvement.

The Life Expectancy Index rose by 0.013 points, from 0.825 in 2023 to 0.838 in 2024, largely due to lower mortality rates after the excess deaths seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Education Index also improved slightly by 0.001 points, reflecting better access to schooling and longer expected years of education. Meanwhile, the GNI Index increased by 0.005 points, supported by Malaysia’s economic growth as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded by 5.1% in 2024.

Kuala Lumpur maintains top spot among states

At the state level, nine states achieved very high human development in 2024. Kuala Lumpur topped the list with a score of 0.899, followed by Selangor (0.856), Pulau Pinang (0.849), Labuan (0.847), Melaka (0.829), Negeri Sembilan (0.825), Sarawak (0.821), Johor (0.811), and Pahang (0.808).

The remaining six states were classified as having high human development: Perak (0.798), Terengganu (0.793), Perlis (0.781), Kedah (0.778), Sabah (0.767), and Kelantan (0.763).

All states saw improvements in their scores compared with 2023, except Sabah, which recorded a slight decline of 0.003 points, from 0.770 to 0.767. Selangor had the biggest jump, up 0.015 points, followed by Johor, which rose by 0.011 points and moved from the high to the very high category.

Meanwhile Negeri Sembilan posted the smallest increase of 0.002 points, while W.P. Labuan, Pahang, Kedah, and Kelantan each recorded a 0.003-point rise.

A holistic view of Malaysia’s progress

Commenting on the findings, Dato’ Sri Dr Uzir explained that the MHDI is built on three pillars: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living.

"These dimensions reflect our holistic approach to measuring development, ensuring that no aspect of human wellbeing is overlooked," he shared.

DOSM also highlighted that the 2024 report underlines Malaysia’s ongoing commitment to inclusive and balanced growth, aiming to show that progress continues not just in the economy, but also in the health, education, and living standards of its people.

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Lead image / DOSM