Labor force participation rate in Malaysia
Malaysia: Labor force participation rate was 66.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Malaysia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 66.1% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Malaysia peaked at 66.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 56.3%, in 1990.
Malaysia ranks 52nd of 186 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.6% | 56.3% | 59.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.3% | 59.5% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.2% | 61.6% | 65.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.0% | 65.5% | 66.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More work & labour data for Malaysia
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 66.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 79.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 70.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Malaysia?
- Labor force participation rate in Malaysia was 66.1% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 66.2% in 2022.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.3% in 1990.
- How does Malaysia rank for labor force participation rate?
- Malaysia ranks 52nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, 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).