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- Malaysia’s MPI fell to 0.0025 in 2024, down from 0.0037 in 2022, showing reduced non-monetary poverty.
- Urban poverty remained very low, while rural areas improved but still recorded higher deprivation.
- Gains were seen in education, and healthcare sectors.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has released the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) for Malaysia for the reference year 2024, with comparisons to 2022. The MPI uses a multidimensional framework covering education, health and living standards to measure poverty beyond monetary income.
The framework includes three dimensions and ten indicators, based on guidelines from the Oxford poverty and human development initiative (OPHI).
Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chief Statistician Malaysia said the decline in MPI reflects broad-based improvements in non-financial dimensions. The national MPI fell from 0.0037 in 2022 to 0.0025 in 2024, showing that multidimensional poverty has become less severe, supported by a reduction in overlapping deprivations among households.
Urban-rural MPI
In urban areas, MPI remained low at 0.0001 in both 2022 and 2024. Rural areas showed higher MPI but improved, declining from 0.0164 in 2022 to 0.0109 in 2024. The persistent gap indicates that multidimensional poverty remains more concentrated in rural communities.
Education dimension
Deprivation related to years of schooling improved from 0.0003 in 2022 to 0.0001 in 2024. School attendance remained at 0.0001 in both years, reflecting continued access to schooling. Overall, the education dimension recorded steady progress.
Health dimension
Access to healthcare services improved, with deprivation decreasing from 0.0013 in 2022 to 0.0009 in 2024. Access to clean water also improved, falling from 0.0014 to 0.0010. Both indicators remain the main contributors to Malaysia’s MPI, highlighting persistent challenges in the health dimension.
Living standards
Most living standards indicators were stable or improving. Housing conditions and room density remained at 0.0001. Sanitation, transport use and access to basic communication equipment stayed at 0.0000. Access to waste collection services improved slightly, from 0.0004 in 2022 to 0.0003 in 2024. Overall, the living standards dimension reflected gradual progress.
International comparison
Malaysia’s MPI of 0.0025 in 2024 compares with Thailand (0.0018; 2022), Vietnam (0.0077; 2021), Indonesia (0.0140; 2017) and the Philippines (0.0158; 2022). DOSM also maintains an MPI series that incorporates household income as an additional dimension.
In summary, Dato’ Uzir noted that the lower MPI signals progress in addressing non-financial aspects of poverty. Continued efforts to strengthen access to clean water and healthcare services, alongside improvements in living standards, are essential to further reduce multidimensional poverty and support inclusive socio-economic development.
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Infographic / DOSM
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