Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Malawi

Malawi: Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 62.06 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
62.06
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
88th
of 188 countries
All-time high
80.86
in 1999
All-time low
62.06
in 2027
Years of data
38
1990–2027

Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Malawi, 1990–2027

0204060801990200820271990: 80.71991: 80.71992: 80.81993: 80.81994: 80.81995: 80.81996: 80.81997: 80.81998: 80.91999: 80.92000: 80.82001: 80.82002: 80.82003: 80.82004: 80.82005: 80.82006: 79.72007: 78.52008: 77.32009: 762010: 74.72011: 73.42012: 71.82013: 70.32014: 68.62015: 672016: 65.22017: 63.52018: 63.42019: 63.32020: 68.32021: 62.92022: 63.12023: 632024: 62.92025: 62.62026: 62.32027: 62.1

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Malawi is 62.06, measured in 2027. That is the lowest value across all 38 years on record.

The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Malawi peaked at 80.86 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 62.06, in 2027.

That places Malawi 88th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.

Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Malawi, 1990 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1990 80.65 —
1991 80.7 +0.1%
1992 80.75 +0.1%
1993 80.79 +0.0%
1994 80.82 +0.0%
1995 80.84 +0.0%
1996 80.84 +0.0%
1997 80.85 +0.0%
1998 80.86 +0.0%
1999 80.86 +0.0%
2000 80.84 -0.0%
2001 80.83 -0.0%
2002 80.82 -0.0%
2003 80.81 -0.0%
2004 80.81 -0.0%
2005 80.81 +0.0%
2006 79.69 -1.4%
2007 78.52 -1.5%
2008 77.31 -1.5%
2009 76.05 -1.6%
2010 74.74 -1.7%
2011 73.38 -1.8%
2012 71.85 -2.1%
2013 70.27 -2.2%
2014 68.64 -2.3%
2015 66.96 -2.4%
2016 65.23 -2.6%
2017 63.47 -2.7%
2018 63.37 -0.1%
2019 63.27 -0.2%
2020 68.26 +7.9%
2021 62.93 -7.8%
2022 63.07 +0.2%
2023 63 -0.1%
2024 62.93 -0.1%
2025 62.58 -0.6%
2026 62.29 -0.5%
2027 62.06 -0.4%

Malawi compared with similar countries

  • Malawi's 62.06 is below the median for low income countries, which is 66.81, 93% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • Malawi's 62.06 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.13, 97% of the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 80.8 80.65 80.86 10
2000s 79.65 76.05 80.84 10
2010s 68.12 63.27 74.74 10
2020s 63.39 62.06 68.26 8

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 85 Chile 62.32 compare
  2. 86 Guam 62.27 compare
  3. 87 Azerbaijan 62.1 compare
  4. 89 Argentina 61.98 compare
  5. 90 Zambia 61.96 compare
  6. 91 Belarus 61.65 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Malawi?
Labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Malawi was 62.06 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 80.86 in 1999.
What is the lowest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 62.06 in 2027.
How does Malawi rank for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
Malawi ranks 88th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Malawi data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 04 October 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-force-participation-rate-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,464 data points, 1990–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.