Homeownership rate, access to basic amenities in Malaysia improve

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (MNTV) – The homeownership rate in Malaysia reached 78 percent in 2024, according to the country’s Basic Amenities Survey Report, as reported by The Star.

Chief statistician Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said that 19.7 pc of residences were rented, while 2.4 pc were quarters.

“Homeownership by ethnicity shows that 75 pc of Bumiputera households own homes, up from 73.3 pc in 2022,” he said in a statement.

On access to basic utilities, Uzir said 97.2 pc of households had access to treated piped water, while almost all households, or 99.9 pc, have access to electricity.

“These findings show that Malaysian households enjoy strong access to housing and essential utilities across income and ethnic groups,” he added.

Uzir also highlighted that Malaysians continue to benefit from significant healthcare access, with 97.8 pc of households being within 5km of a public healthcare facility, and 92.8 pc within the same distance of a private healthcare facility.

“This indicates that households in both urban and rural areas have good access to medical services, contributing to more equitable and comprehensive health coverage nationwide,” he said.

The report also revealed that educational institutions remain easily accessible, with 98.7 pc of households being within 5km of a primary school, 95.9 pc from a secondary school, and 98.2 pc from a public kindergarten.

Uzir further said that Malaysian households are increasingly equipped with essential technologies supporting communication, learning, and access to information, as smartphone ownership stood at 98.4 pc, while internet subscriptions had risen to 99.6 pc.

“These findings underline positive improvements in living standards and access to basic amenities for families across the country,” he added.