Malaysia’s home ownership rate continued its upward trend in 2024, reflecting gradual improvement in household ownership across the country. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), which released its report few days ago, about 78% of households lived in their own homes in 2024, up from 76% in 2022.

DOSM reported that 19.7% of households were residing in rented living quarters, while 2.4% lived in employer-provided or other forms of quarters. Home ownership was highest among the top 20% income group at 85.5%, followed by the middle 40% at 75.9% and the bottom 40% at 76.3%, indicating relatively broad ownership across income levels.

At the state and federal territory level, Putrajaya recorded the lowest home ownership rate at 27.1%, followed by Labuan (61.1%), Kuala Lumpur (61.4%) and Selangor (71.9%). In contrast, Perlis (85.8%), Melaka (85.6%), Kedah (85.3%) and Perak (85.2%) topped the list with the highest ownership rates.

Penang also stood out with a home ownership rate of 81.4%, placing it above the national average and higher than other major urban states such as Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Johor. This suggests that despite its dense urban centres and strong property demand, Penang continues to maintain relatively healthy access to home ownership.

DOSM noted that variations between states reflect differences in demographic composition, housing market conditions and urban-rural characteristics.

Beyond housing, access to basic amenities remains high nationwide. Electricity coverage reached 99.9% of households, while treated piped water stood at 97.2% and waste collection services at 75.4%. Vehicle ownership was also widespread, with 92.3% of households owning a car and 78.1% owning a motorcycle. In terms of connectivity, 99.6% of households had internet access, underscoring Malaysia’s high level of digital penetration.

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