Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Malaysia
Malaysia: Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending was 51.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Malaysia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Malaysia stood at 51.6%.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Malaysia peaked at 51.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 35.8%, in 1990.
Malaysia ranks 104th of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 35.8% | — |
| 1991 | 35.9% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 36.4% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 36.9% | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 37.4% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 37.9% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 38.4% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 39.0% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 39.5% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 40.1% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 40.6% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 41.1% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 41.5% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 41.9% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 42.3% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 42.6% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 43.0% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 43.4% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 43.9% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 44.3% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 44.8% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 45.3% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 47.0% | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 48.8% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 50.5% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 50.8% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 51.0% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 51.3% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 51.6% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 51.8% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 51.4% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 51.4% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 51.6% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 51.6% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 51.6% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 51.6% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.7% | 35.8% | 40.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.5% | 40.6% | 44.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.3% | 44.8% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.5% | 51.4% | 51.6% | 6 |
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 participation rates by family benefits public spending in Malaysia?
- Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending in Malaysia was 51.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 51.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.8% in 1990.
- How does Malaysia rank for female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending?
- Malaysia ranks 104th out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).