Labor force participation rate by age in Malaysia
Malaysia: Labor force participation rate by age was 45.4% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate by age in Malaysia, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate by age in Malaysia is 45.4%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Malaysia peaked at 48.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 41.9%, in 2011.
Malaysia ranks 65th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.6% | 44.5% | 47.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.4% | 42.3% | 44.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.2% | 41.9% | 46.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.8% | 43.0% | 48.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More work & labour data for Malaysia
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 70.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 79.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 45.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 37.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Malaysia?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Malaysia was 45.4% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 48.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.9% in 2011.
- How does Malaysia rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Malaysia ranks 65th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Labor force participation rate 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
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).