Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 11.7% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malaysia, 1970–2022
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malaysia is 11.7%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malaysia peaked at 12.1% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 1991.
Malaysia ranks 96th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12.1% | — |
| 1980 | 4.0% | -67.1% |
| 1991 | 1.2% | -68.8% |
| 2007 | 10.9% | +779.2% |
| 2008 | 10.9% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 11.9% | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 11.4% | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 9.7% | -14.9% |
| 2012 | 9.9% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 9.8% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 10.7% | +12.0% |
| 2016 | 10.5% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 10.8% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 10.9% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 10.5% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | +14.2% |
| 2021 | 11.3% | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 11.7% | +4.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 11.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.5%, 76% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 11.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.0%, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +779.2% | 1.2% | 10.9% |
| 1991 | -68.8% | 4.0% | 1.2% |
| 1980 | -67.1% | 12.1% | 4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.1% | 12.1% | 12.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 11.2% | 10.9% | 11.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 10.4% | 9.5% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 11.3% | 12.0% | 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malaysia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Malaysia was 11.7% in 2022, 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.1% in 1970.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 1991.
- How does Malaysia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Malaysia ranks 96th out of 160 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, 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.