Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malawi
Malawi: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 59.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malawi, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malawi stood at 59.0%. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malawi peaked at 78.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 59.0%, in 2025.
That places Malawi 104th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 78.5% | — |
| 1991 | 78.4% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 78.3% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 78.3% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 78.2% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 78.2% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 78.2% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 78.2% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 78.2% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 78.2% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 78.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 78.2% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 78.2% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 78.2% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 78.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 78.2% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 76.9% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 75.5% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 74.1% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 72.6% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 71.0% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 69.4% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 67.9% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 66.3% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 64.6% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 63.0% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 61.3% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 59.6% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 59.7% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 59.8% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 64.1% | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 59.5% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 59.5% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 59.4% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 59.3% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 59.0% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 78.3% | 78.2% | 78.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.8% | 72.6% | 78.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.2% | 59.6% | 71.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.1% | 59.0% | 64.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More work & labour data for Malawi
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4409 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4183 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 4.02 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 13,360 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 28,345 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 30,321 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 28,820 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 59,141 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malawi?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malawi was 59.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 78.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.0% in 2025.
- How does Malawi rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Malawi ranks 104th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.