Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 56.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malaysia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malaysia is 56.7%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malaysia peaked at 56.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 37.5%, in 1990.
Malaysia ranks 114th of 187 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.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 37.5% | — |
| 1991 | 37.6% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 38.1% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 38.6% | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 39.2% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 39.7% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 40.3% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 40.8% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 41.4% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 42.0% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 42.6% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 43.1% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 43.6% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 44.0% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 44.5% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 44.9% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 45.4% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 45.8% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 46.3% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 46.9% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 47.4% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 48.0% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 50.0% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 51.9% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 53.9% | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 54.4% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 54.6% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 55.1% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 55.6% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 55.9% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 55.6% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 55.7% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 56.1% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 56.3% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 56.5% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 56.7% | +0.4% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 56.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.9%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 56.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 64.4%, 88% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.5% | 37.5% | 42.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.7% | 42.6% | 46.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.7% | 47.4% | 55.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.1% | 55.6% | 56.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 111 Mauritius 57.1% compare
- 112 Trinidad and Tobago 57.0% compare
- 113 Zambia 56.7% compare
- 115 Namibia 56.4% compare
- 116 Cape Verde 56.4% compare
- 117 North Macedonia 55.9% compare
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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malaysia?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Malaysia was 56.7% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 56.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.5% in 1990.
- How does Malaysia rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Malaysia ranks 114th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.