Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malawi
Malawi: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 63.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malawi, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malawi is 63.2%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malawi peaked at 80.9% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 63.2%, in 2025.
That places Malawi 128th 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, total (% of total population ages) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 80.6% | — |
| 1991 | 80.7% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 80.7% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 80.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 80.7% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 80.8% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 80.9% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 80.9% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 80.9% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 80.9% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 80.8% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 80.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 80.8% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 80.8% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 80.8% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 80.8% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 79.7% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 78.6% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 77.5% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 76.3% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 75.1% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 73.8% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 72.3% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 70.8% | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 69.2% | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 67.6% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 65.9% | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 64.1% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 64.0% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 63.9% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 68.9% | +7.9% |
| 2021 | 63.6% | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 63.7% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 63.6% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 63.6% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 63.2% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.8% | 80.6% | 80.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.7% | 76.3% | 80.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.7% | 63.9% | 75.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.4% | 63.2% | 68.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 125 Cuba 63.8% compare
- 126 Philippines 63.7% compare
- 127 Mongolia 63.6% compare
- 129 Bosnia and Herzegovina 63.1% compare
- 130 Uzbekistan 62.9% compare
- 131 Equatorial Guinea 62.3% compare
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, total (% of total population ages) in Malawi?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malawi was 63.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 80.9% in 1998.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.2% in 2025.
- How does Malawi rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Malawi ranks 128th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total 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, total (% of total 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.