Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malawi
Malawi: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 19.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malawi, 2005–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2024, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malawi stood at 19.2%. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 181.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malawi peaked at 19.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 2020.
Malawi ranks 47th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1.5% | — |
| 2011 | 2.3% | +53.2% |
| 2013 | 6.8% | +197.0% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | -23.7% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | -76.3% |
| 2024 | 19.2% | +1451.9% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 19.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 8.8%, 2.2× the median. (9 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 19.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.4%, 1.8× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 2.3% | 6.8% | 3 |
| 2020s | 10.2% | 1.2% | 19.2% | 2 |
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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malawi?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malawi was 19.2% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 19.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 2020.
- How does Malawi rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Malawi ranks 47th out of 160 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 181.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.