Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 70.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malaysia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malaysia stood at 70.7%. 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 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malaysia peaked at 70.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 58.1%, in 1990.
Malaysia ranks 86th 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, total (% of total population ages) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.1% | — |
| 1991 | 58.1% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 58.5% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 58.9% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 59.3% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 59.7% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 60.1% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 60.5% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 60.9% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 61.3% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 61.6% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 61.8% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 62.0% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 62.2% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 62.3% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 62.5% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 62.8% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 63.0% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 63.4% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 63.7% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 64.2% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 64.6% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 65.7% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 66.9% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 68.0% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 68.4% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 68.3% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 68.6% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 69.1% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 69.5% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 69.3% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 69.6% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 70.3% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 70.4% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 70.5% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 70.7% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.6% | 58.1% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.5% | 61.6% | 63.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.3% | 64.2% | 69.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.1% | 69.3% | 70.7% | 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, total (% of total population ages) in Malaysia?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malaysia was 70.7% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 70.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.1% in 1990.
- How does Malaysia rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Malaysia ranks 86th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. 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, 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.