Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta
Malta: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta is 3.1%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and down 42.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta peaked at 8.5% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2025.
That places Malta 146th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 8.5% | — |
| 1985 | 8.1% | -4.7% |
| 1986 | 6.8% | -16.0% |
| 1987 | 4.4% | -35.3% |
| 1988 | 4.0% | -9.1% |
| 1989 | 3.7% | -7.5% |
| 1990 | 3.9% | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | -7.7% |
| 1992 | 4.0% | +11.1% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | +12.5% |
| 1994 | 4.1% | -8.9% |
| 1995 | 3.7% | -9.8% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | +18.9% |
| 1997 | 5.0% | +13.6% |
| 1998 | 5.1% | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 5.3% | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | +19.3% |
| 2001 | 7.1% | +12.4% |
| 2002 | 6.9% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | +8.5% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 6.9% | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 6.8% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 6.0% | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 6.9% | +15.4% |
| 2010 | 6.9% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 6.4% | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 6.2% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 6.1% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 5.7% | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 4.7% | -12.9% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -14.6% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | +19.0% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | -22.7% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | -8.0% |
| 2025 | 3.1% | -3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.9% | 3.7% | 8.5% | 6 |
| 1990s | 4.4% | 3.6% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 6.0% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 4.0% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.1% | 4.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More work & labour data for Malta
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.8118 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7863 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.8415 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.79 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.2041 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 404.95 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 14.3 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 168.51 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 191.42 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 359.93 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta was 3.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 1983.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2025.
- How does Malta rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Malta ranks 146th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malta 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.
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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.