Sabah Population 2026 — 3.76M People & 30+ Groups

Sabah at a glance

Sabah is Malaysia\u2019s third most populous state, behind Selangor and Johor. Its 3.76 million residents (2025) are spread across 73,631 km² of land — making it the second-largest state in Malaysia by area — at an overall density of just ~51 people per km². That density masks enormous variation: the west coast around Kota Kinabalu is dense and urban, while interior districts like Tongod and Pensiangan remain sparsely populated.

What makes Sabah demographically unique in Malaysia is ethnic diversity. Unlike Peninsular Malaysia, which is dominated by Malay, Chinese and Indian communities, Sabah is home to more than 30 indigenous groups — Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Rungus, Lotud, Bisaya, Suluk, and many more — alongside Chinese, Malay, and a large non-citizen population of Filipino and Indonesian workers.

Ethnic composition

Sabah\u2019s ethnic breakdown (2020 Census) shows how no single group dominates. The Kadazan-Dusun are the largest indigenous group but still account for less than 20% of citizens — the most evenly distributed ethnic mix in Malaysia.

Religion

Sabah is one of Malaysia\u2019s most religiously diverse states. Islam is the largest religion, but Christianity has a much stronger presence here than in Peninsular Malaysia — particularly among the Kadazan-Dusun, Murut, and Rungus communities.

Population by district

Sabah\u2019s 27 administrative districts have wildly different population sizes. The three biggest — Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, and Sandakan — together account for roughly a third of the state\u2019s people. The interior districts are vast in area but home to only a few tens of thousands each.

The three big cities

• Kota Kinabalu (~500,000 in district, ~750,000 metro) — State capital, main airport, tourism and government centre.
• Tawau (~373,000) — Second-largest district, gateway to the east coast and Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
• Sandakan (~300,000) — Historic capital until 1946, gateway to the Kinabatangan River and Sepilok orangutan sanctuary.

Growth and trends

Sabah\u2019s population grew rapidly from the 1970s through the 2000s, more than tripling in 30 years. Much of that growth came from immigration — especially from the southern Philippines and Indonesia — and a high birth rate. Both drivers have now tapered off.

Urban vs rural

About 54.7% of Sabah\u2019s population is classified as urban (2020 Census) — noticeably lower than Malaysia\u2019s national average of 77%. Urbanisation is highly concentrated on the west coast: greater Kota Kinabalu alone accounts for roughly a fifth of the state\u2019s population. The east coast has secondary urban centres at Sandakan, Tawau, and Lahad Datu, while the interior remains mostly rural.

Rural-to-urban migration is ongoing — especially among younger Kadazan-Dusun and Murut people moving from the interior to KK for education and work. Several interior districts are losing population, while Penampang and Putatan (KK\u2019s suburbs) are growing the fastest.

Age structure and median age

Sabah has one of Malaysia\u2019s youngest populations. The median age is 27.2 years, compared to a national median of 30.3 years. This reflects historically high birth rates and the large share of young non-citizen workers. Only about 7% of Sabahans are 65 or older, compared to ~8% nationally.

That youth is an asset and a pressure point: a young workforce supports economic growth, but also means high demand for schools, housing, and first jobs — and explains why youth unemployment in Sabah is more than double the national rate.

Frequently asked questions