Female labor force by age in Malaysia
Malaysia: Female labor force by age was 167,599 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
167,599 people
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
49th
of 188 countries
All-time high
167,599 people
in 2024
All-time low
35,658 people
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Female labor force by age in Malaysia, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, female labor force by age in Malaysia stood at 167,599 people. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 57.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force by age in Malaysia peaked at 167,599 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 35,658 people, in 1990.
Malaysia ranks 49th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Female labor force by age in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 35,658 people | — |
| 1991 | 37,212 people | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 38,836 people | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 40,725 people | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 42,731 people | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 44,806 people | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 46,951 people | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 49,004 people | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 49,744 people | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 51,668 people | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 54,040 people | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 56,033 people | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 58,862 people | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 61,930 people | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 65,172 people | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 68,333 people | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 71,670 people | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 75,303 people | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 78,996 people | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 82,117 people | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 86,798 people | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 91,347 people | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 96,076 people | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 100,972 people | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 106,428 people | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 112,111 people | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 118,092 people | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 124,835 people | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 131,912 people | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 139,337 people | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 139,181 people | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 151,678 people | +9.0% |
| 2022 | 154,210 people | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 160,323 people | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 167,599 people | +4.5% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 167,599 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 28,662 people, 5.8× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 167,599 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 79,298 people, 2.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43,734 people | 35,658 people | 51,668 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 67,246 people | 54,040 people | 82,117 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 110,791 people | 86,798 people | 139,337 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 154,598 people | 139,181 people | 167,599 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More work & labour data for Malaysia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.2772 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.2563 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.25 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6933 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 36,440 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,289 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 21,832 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 22,194 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 44,026 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force by age in Malaysia?
- Female labor force by age in Malaysia was 167,599 people in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force by age recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 167,599 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest female labor force by age recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 35,658 people in 1990.
- How does Malaysia rank for female labor force by age?
- Malaysia ranks 49th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force by age rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed).