Sandakan Division
Administrative District Profile
Sandakan
Historically known as Elopura and the colonial capital of North Borneo. Sandakan is Sabah's second-largest urban center, anchoring global palm oil export terminals and world-renowned wildlife sanctuaries at Sepilok.
Local conditions
Live environmental and topography data
Temperature Anomaly
+1.6°C
vs 1991–2020 baseline
Monthly Rainfall
88%
of historical seasonal average
Elevation Range
0m – 150m
Topographic baseline
The district in numbers
Official latest releases from DOSM & State Agencies
People
439,050
DOSM Q1 2026 estimate
Median Income
RM 4,380
DOSM Household Survey
Poverty Incidence
5.1%
e-Kasih / DOSM 2024
Primary Economic Base
Palm Oil Refining (POIC), Deep Sea Fisheries & Gateway Eco-Tourism
Education Facilities
Registered primary, secondary, and tertiary public institutions.
98 primary · 24 secondary
Healthcare Access
District hospitals, maternal centers, and rural health clinics (Klinik Desa).
Duchess of Kent Hospital · 18 rural clinics