Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malta
Malta: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 81.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malta, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Malta recorded 81.6% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malta peaked at 81.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 57.2%, in 2004.
That places Malta 16th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57.3% | — |
| 1991 | 57.4% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 57.6% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 57.7% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 57.7% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 57.8% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 58.2% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 58.4% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 58.6% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 58.7% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 58.2% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 58.9% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 58.9% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 58.7% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 57.2% | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 57.7% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 58.0% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 58.9% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 59.1% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 59.5% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 60.6% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 62.0% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 64.0% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 66.3% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 67.8% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 68.8% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 70.6% | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 72.1% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 74.0% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 74.8% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 76.0% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 77.1% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 79.2% | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 80.2% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 81.5% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 81.6% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.0% | 57.3% | 58.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.5% | 57.2% | 59.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.1% | 60.6% | 74.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.3% | 76.0% | 81.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More work & labour data for Malta
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.8118 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7863 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.8415 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.79 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.2041 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 404.95 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 14.3 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 168.51 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 191.42 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 359.93 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malta?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Malta was 81.6% 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 81.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.2% in 2004.
- How does Malta rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Malta ranks 16th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta 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.