Unemployment rate in Malawi
Malawi: Unemployment rate was 5.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
5.1%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
98th
of 186 countries
All-time high
5.7%
in 2020
All-time low
4.7%
in 1997
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in Malawi, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 5.1% for unemployment rate in 2025.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Malawi peaked at 5.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 1997.
Malawi ranks 98th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment rate in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.9% | — |
| 1992 | 5.1% | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 5.4% | +7.6% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | -8.8% |
| 1996 | 4.9% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 4.7% | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 5.0% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 5.0% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 5.2% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 5.2% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 5.2% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 4.8% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 4.7% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 5.7% | +15.2% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | -11.2% |
| 2023 | 5.0% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 5.1% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 5.1% | +0.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 5.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.4%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 5.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 93% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.0% | 4.7% | 5.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 4.7% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 5.0% | 5.7% | 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 unemployment rate in Malawi?
- Unemployment rate in Malawi was 5.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 1997.
- How does Malawi rank for unemployment rate?
- Malawi ranks 98th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.