Labor force participation rate in Malta
Malta: Labor force participation rate was 64.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Malta, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Malta is 64.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Malta peaked at 64.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 48.3%, in 2004.
That places Malta 76th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 in Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 49.9% | — |
| 1991 | 49.8% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 49.9% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 49.9% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 49.9% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 49.9% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 50.1% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 50.2% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 50.3% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 50.3% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 49.7% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 50.2% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 50.0% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 49.8% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 48.3% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 48.7% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 48.9% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 49.6% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 49.7% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 50.0% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 50.6% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 51.4% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 52.7% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 54.1% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 55.2% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 55.6% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 56.6% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 57.7% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 59.3% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 60.3% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 61.5% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 62.4% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 64.0% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 64.3% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 64.2% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 64.0% | -0.3% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 64.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Malta's 64.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.0%, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.0% | 49.8% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.5% | 48.3% | 50.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.3% | 50.6% | 60.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.4% | 61.5% | 64.3% | 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 in Malta?
- Labor force participation rate in Malta was 64.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 64.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.3% in 2004.
- How does Malta rank for labor force participation rate?
- Malta ranks 76th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).