Unemployment rate in Malaysia
Malaysia: Unemployment rate was 3.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate in Malaysia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Malaysia stood at 3.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Malaysia peaked at 4.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1997.
That places Malaysia 123rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.7% | — |
| 1992 | 3.7% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 4.1% | +10.8% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | -11.4% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | -13.5% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | -20.0% |
| 1997 | 2.5% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 3.2% | +30.6% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | +7.2% |
| 2000 | 3.0% | -12.5% |
| 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% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | -5.9% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 3.3% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 3.0% | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 3.0% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 3.1% | +7.6% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 4.5% | +36.3% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | -15.3% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | -2.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 3.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 67% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 3.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.3% | 2.5% | 4.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More work & labour data for Malaysia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.2671 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.2772 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.2563 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.25 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6933 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 36,440 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,289 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 21,832 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 22,194 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 44,026 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Malaysia?
- Unemployment rate in Malaysia was 3.8% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1997.
- How does Malaysia rank for unemployment rate?
- Malaysia ranks 123rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. 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 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.