Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 83.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Malaysia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Malaysia is 83.1%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Malaysia peaked at 83.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 78.0%, in 1991.
That places Malaysia 37th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 78.1% | — |
| 1991 | 78.0% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 78.2% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 78.4% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 78.6% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 78.8% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 79.0% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 79.2% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 79.4% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 79.6% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 79.6% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 79.5% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 79.3% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 79.1% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 78.9% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 78.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 78.8% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 78.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 79.0% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 79.2% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 79.4% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 79.6% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 80.0% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 80.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 80.8% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 80.9% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 80.5% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 80.5% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 81.0% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 81.5% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 81.3% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 81.7% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 82.8% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 83.0% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 83.0% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 83.1% | +0.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 83.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 78.6%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 83.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 78.2%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 78.7% | 78.0% | 79.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.1% | 78.8% | 79.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.5% | 79.4% | 81.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.5% | 81.3% | 83.1% | 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 labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Malaysia?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Malaysia was 83.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 83.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.0% in 1991.
- How does Malaysia rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- Malaysia ranks 37th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. 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, male (% of male 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.