adminKUALA LUMPUR: TikTok has contributed about RM20 billion in gross value added (GVA) to Malaysia’s digital economy by 2025 and support about 147,000 jobs nationwide, according to the Malaysia Socioeconomic Impact Report 2025.
The report, produced in conjunction with global consulting firm Kearney, estimates that the contribution amounts to approximately four percent of Malaysia’s digital economy and almost one percent of the country’s estimated nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Economy Minister Datuk Seri Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said digital platforms open up wider opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and content creators.
“Platforms like TikTok show that digital participation can be translated into real economic value by expanding opportunities for SMEs, empowering content creators and opening new avenues for income generation and entrepreneurship,” he said when officiating the launch of the report, here last night.
He said the development also supports the government’s aspirations under Malaysia MADANI as well as the direction of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which emphasises inclusive and sustainable growth in the digital economy.
Meanwhile, Kearney partner Gareth Pereira said the study showed that the TikTok ecosystem has grown beyond just entertainment to become an economic catalyst that supports innovation and entrepreneurship.
Munsur Ramli (@myhomefresh), a disabled entrepreneur (OKU) at TikTok Shop, said: “My business has been declining since I fell ill in 2022. However, switching to TikTok Shop has helped turn things around and improve my family’s finances. From having no sales at the beginning, I am now able to generate RM1,000 a day.”
Sandra Hanayu (@sandrahanayu), a TikTok content creator, said: “I transitioned from the aviation industry to becoming a full-time content creator when I realized that my income from TikTok was three times higher than my income in the aviation industry. This change allowed me to support my parents and pay for the treatment of my younger brother who has autism.”
The report also found that TikTok Shop houses over 1.8 million local businesses in Malaysia and has trained over 100,000 local SMEs in collaboration with government agency partners.
A survey conducted on approximately 97 percent of businesses found TikTok to be an important source of revenue, while many gained new skills in digital marketing, content creation and live sales (LIVE) through this platform.
TikTok Malaysia’s Head of Public Policy Firdaus Fadzil said the platform remains committed to helping Malaysian content creators and businesses as the country’s digital economy expands.
The report also found that almost 35 percent of content creators choose to be involved full-time, while about 45 percent earn income above the Malaysian minimum wage, in addition to 4.5 million content creators generating income through TikTok LIVE (October 2024-2025).
For more information or to access the TikTok Socioeconomic Impact Report 2025, please visit https://newsroom.tiktok.com/beyond-the-scroll-tiktoks-malaysia-socioeconomic-impact-report-reveals-rm20-billion-boost-to-the-digital-economy?lang=en-MY .
— BERNAMA
