Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Malawi
Malawi: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 55.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Malawi, 1975–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Malawi stood at 55.2%. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is down 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Malawi peaked at 91.6% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 55.2%, in 2024.
That places Malawi 186th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 81.7% | — |
| 1983 | 91.6% | +12.2% |
| 1987 | 80.6% | -12.0% |
| 1998 | 79.3% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 89.1% | +12.3% |
| 2005 | 83.6% | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 78.4% | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 83.3% | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 68.7% | -17.5% |
| 2020 | 74.0% | +7.7% |
| 2024 | 55.2% | -25.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 55.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 75.6%, 73% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 55.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.2%, 79% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 81.7% | 81.7% | 81.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 86.1% | 80.6% | 91.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 79.3% | 79.3% | 79.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 86.4% | 83.6% | 89.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 76.8% | 68.7% | 83.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 64.6% | 55.2% | 74.0% | 2 |
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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Malawi?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Malawi was 55.2% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 91.6% in 1983.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.2% in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Malawi ranks 186th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national 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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.