Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malawi
Malawi: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 59.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malawi, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malawi is 59.9%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malawi peaked at 64.1% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 59.9%, in 2025.
Malawi ranks 41st of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 64.0% | — |
| 1992 | 64.0% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 63.9% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 64.1% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 63.9% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 63.6% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 63.4% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 63.2% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 63.0% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 62.8% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 62.9% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 62.9% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 62.9% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 62.9% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 62.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 62.7% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 62.5% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 62.2% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 62.0% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 61.8% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 61.5% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 61.4% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 61.3% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 61.1% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 61.0% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 60.8% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 60.7% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 60.7% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 60.1% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 60.1% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 60.0% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 60.0% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 59.9% | -0.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 59.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 76.9%, 78% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 59.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 89% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.7% | 63.0% | 64.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 62.7% | 62.0% | 62.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.1% | 60.7% | 61.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.1% | 59.9% | 60.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More work & labour data for Malawi
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4409 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4183 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 4.02 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 13,360 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 28,345 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 30,321 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 28,820 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 59,141 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malawi?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Malawi was 59.9% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 64.1% in 1994.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.9% in 2025.
- How does Malawi rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Malawi ranks 41st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).