Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malaysia, 1970–2022
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malaysia is 3.9%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 15.2% on the previous year and up 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malaysia peaked at 7.4% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1991.
Malaysia ranks 128th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5.1% | — |
| 1980 | 1.7% | -67.7% |
| 1982 | 3.4% | +104.7% |
| 1983 | 3.8% | +11.8% |
| 1984 | 5.0% | +32.8% |
| 1985 | 5.6% | +11.4% |
| 1986 | 7.4% | +32.0% |
| 1987 | 7.3% | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 6.9% | -5.1% |
| 1989 | 5.7% | -17.5% |
| 1990 | 4.5% | -21.4% |
| 1991 | 0.5% | -89.3% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | +670.3% |
| 1993 | 4.1% | +11.0% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | -23.5% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | -20.0% |
| 1997 | 2.4% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 3.2% | +30.7% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | +7.3% |
| 2000 | 3.0% | -12.5% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | +17.6% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 3.5% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | -8.7% |
| 2008 | 3.3% | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | -12.0% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 3.0% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 3.1% | +7.5% |
| 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 5.2% | 1.7% | 7.4% | 9 |
| 1990s | 3.1% | 0.5% | 4.5% | 9 |
| 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
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, total (% of total labor force) in Malaysia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malaysia was 3.9% in 2022, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 1986.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1991.
- How does Malaysia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Malaysia ranks 128th out of 187 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.