Average Shopping Mall Distances Across Malaysia

How far do you need to travel in each state to find a shopping mall?

We set out to answer this by analyzing the average distance people in each state travel to reach a mall.

With population-weighted centroids and data from 405 shopping mall locations, this analysis reveals striking differences in accessibility across Malaysia’s states.

Methodology

Our analysis focused on one key factor: the distance from each state’s population-weighted centroid to shopping malls. With this approach, rather than simply using the geometric center of each state, we accounted for population density, weighting the centroid to reflect where people actually live.

Analysis

Each calculation is in kilometers (KM):

• W.P. Putrajaya has the shortest average distance to a shopping mall at just 2.2 km. Given its small size of 49 km², it’s no surprise that shopping malls are highly accessible here

• Sarawak has the longest average distance to a shopping mall at 190.1 km. This isn’t surprising, given that it’s Malaysia’s largest state, spanning 124,450 km², with 56% of its malls concentrated in Kuching.

• Perlis stands out as the only state in Malaysia without any shopping malls.

Top 5 States with the Closest Average Distance to a Shopping Mall

1. W.P. Putrajaya – 2.2 km
   As the smallest territory in Malaysia, with an area of just 49 km², it’s no surprise that Putrajaya residents enjoy the shortest average distance to a shopping mall.
2. W.P. Kuala Lumpur – 4.71 km
   Known for its dense urban development and vibrant retail scene, Kuala Lumpur offers exceptional mall accessibility to its population. While some may find it too crowded, others enjoy the atmosphere.
3. Labuan – 4.73 km
   With only one shopping mall on the island, Labuan still enjoys a relatively short average distance of 4.7 km, thanks to its small size and compact layout.
4. Pulau Pinang – 9.1 km
   Famous for its food, shopping, and cultural attractions, Pulau Pinang’s compact size ensures that shopping malls are easily accessible to most residents.
5. Melaka – 10.5 km
   Although known for its many historic buildings, which make it a popular tourist destination, Melaka also boasts a good concentration of malls, ensuring short distances even for its smaller population.

Below is the complete list of Malaysia’s states, showing the average distance to a shopping mall alongside the total number of shopping malls.

State

Number of Shopping Malls

Distance (KM)

Perlis

0

​

W.P. Putrajaya

3

2.23

W.P. Kuala Lumpur

74

4.71

W.P. Labuan

1

4.73

Pulau Pinang

30

9.14

Melaka

10

10.53

Selangor

90

13.98

Negeri Sembilan

12

19.55

Perak

16

28.35

Kelantan

5

42.86

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