Kuala lumpur: The 2026 Economic Census (BE2026) will encompass an estimated 1.2 million establishments nationwide, with 180,000 registered business establishments operating in the Federal Territories, as stated by the Statistics Department Malaysia (DOSM).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, DOSM reported a 19.5 percent increase in the number of registered business establishments in the Federal Territories compared to the 2023 Economic Census. The agency noted that establishments in these territories are projected to include 58.7 percent micro enterprises, 35.0 percent small establishments, 1.6 percent medium establishments, and 4.7 percent large establishments.
The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur was highlighted by DOSM as contributing 16.1 percent to Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP), valued at RM265.8 billion in 2024, marking a 6.2 percent growth. It ranked as the second-highest contributor after Selangor. The services sector, a dominant force in the economy, grew by 5.5 percent, exceeding the national growth rate of 5.3 percent. This was supported by growth in wholesale and retail trade, food and beverage, accommodation, finance, insurance, real estate, and business services subsectors. Additionally, the construction and manufacturing sectors increased by 21.1 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively.
DOSM hosted an engagement session for BE2026 with stakeholders and business associations at the Federal Territories level. This event saw over 200 participants from various agencies and industry associations briefed on BE2026’s implementation. Malaysia’s chief statistician, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, who officiated at the event, urged all parties to consider BE2026’s implementation a national responsibility vital for enhancing the country’s competitiveness, driving innovation, and ensuring Malaysia’s sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economic prosperity.
Themed ‘Data as the Pulse of the People’s Economy,’ the nationwide census will be conducted from February to October 2026. It will cover all business establishments and ‘non-profit institutions’ across all economic sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining and quarrying, and services.
BE2026 is the sixth census conducted in Malaysia since 2001, implemented under the Statistics Act 1965 (Revised 1989). Section 5 of the Act mandates any establishment operating in Malaysia to provide accurate information or the best estimates to DOSM. The census will employ the Malaysia Standard Industrial Classification (MSIC) 2025 to cover five sectors, 17 sections, and 1,216 industries, reflecting current economic structural changes, such as innovation-based industries, sustainable energy, information technology, and the digital economy.
DOSM emphasized that the census supports major national policies, including the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), the Digital Economy Agenda, Industrial Revolution 4.0, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and the Bumiputra Economic Strategic Plan 2035. The data collected will be used to evaluate productivity, investment, job opportunities, technology adoption, and the national economy’s competitiveness. The results of BE2026 will be published through 51 official publications, facilitating user access to economic information by sector and state.