Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Malaysia

Malaysia: Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS was 3.9% in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
3.9%
Change on year
down 15.2%
World rank
123rd
of 189 countries
All-time high
4.6%
in 2021
All-time low
2.9%
in 2014
Years of data
22
2000–2022

Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Malaysia, 2000–2022

0123452000201120222000: 3 %2001: 3.5 %2002: 3.5 %2003: 3.6 %2004: 3.5 %2005: 3.5 %2007: 3.2 %2008: 3.3 %2009: 3.7 %2010: 3.2 %2011: 3 %2012: 3 %2013: 3.1 %2014: 2.9 %2015: 3.1 %2016: 3.4 %2017: 3.4 %2018: 3.3 %2019: 3.3 %2020: 4.5 %2021: 4.6 %2022: 3.9 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Malaysia is 3.9%, measured in 2022.

That represents a change of down 15.2% on the previous year and up 28.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Malaysia peaked at 4.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2014.

Malaysia ranks 123rd of 189 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%) in Malaysia, 2000 to 2022.
Year % Change
2000 3.0%
2001 3.5% +17.7%
2002 3.5% -1.4%
2003 3.6% +3.7%
2004 3.5% -1.9%
2005 3.5% -0.3%
2007 3.2% -8.5%
2008 3.3% +3.4%
2009 3.7% +10.5%
2010 3.2% -11.9%
2011 3.0% -6.2%
2012 3.0% -0.3%
2013 3.1% +2.3%
2014 2.9% -7.4%
2015 3.1% +7.6%
2016 3.4% +9.7%
2017 3.4% -1.2%
2018 3.3% -1.8%
2019 3.3% +0.0%
2020 4.5% +36.4%
2021 4.6% +2.2%
2022 3.9% -15.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3.4% 3.0% 3.7% 9
2010s 3.2% 2.9% 3.4% 10
2020s 4.3% 3.9% 4.6% 3

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 120 Norway 4.0% compare
  2. 121 Ghana 4.0% compare
  3. 122 Australia 3.9% compare
  4. 124 Slovenia 3.7% compare
  5. 125 Bangladesh 3.6% compare
  6. 125 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 3.6% compare

See the full ranking of 228 places →

More work & labour data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Malaysia?
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Malaysia was 3.9% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 4.6% in 2021.
What is the lowest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2014.
How does Malaysia rank for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls?
Malaysia ranks 123rd out of 189 countries with data for 2022.
Is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malaysia data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rate-by-sex-and-age-13th-icls-percent/malaysia/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
228 places, 4,321 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed