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Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — Malawi

Employment-to-population ratio in Malawi in 2025 — 59.4%. Ranked 78 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 17.35 pp.

2025 59.4% −0.34 pp vs 2024
World rank 78of 182
Period maximum 77.06%1997
Period minimum 59.37%2021

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — Malawi, 1991–202555606570758019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 76.75%1992: 76.66%1993: 76.76%1994: 76.48%1995: 76.88%1996: 76.85%1997: 77.06%1998: 76.88%1999: 76.81%2000: 76.76%2001: 76.61%2002: 76.58%2003: 76.64%2004: 76.8%2005: 76.82%2006: 75.74%2007: 74.7%2008: 73.6%2009: 72.45%2010: 71.16%2011: 69.84%2012: 68.29%2013: 66.77%2014: 65.23%2015: 63.64%2016: 61.96%2017: 60.26%2018: 60.19%2019: 60.13%2020: 64.36%2021: 59.37%2022: 59.9%2023: 59.84%2024: 59.75%2025: 59.4%
Change over the period: −17.35 pp Annual average: -0.51 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Malawi

Malawi 59.4%
World 58.06%
Sub-Saharan Africa 66.33%
Eastern Africa computed 68.61%
Low-income countries computed 60.99%
Employment-to-population ratio — Malawi, by year Malawi All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 59.4 −0.34 pp
2024 59.75 −0.1 pp
2023 59.84 −0.06 pp
2022 59.9 +0.53 pp
2021 59.37 −4.99 pp
2020 64.36 +4.23 pp
2019 60.13 −0.06 pp
2018 60.19 −0.07 pp
2017 60.26 −1.7 pp
2016 61.96 −1.68 pp
2015 63.64 −1.59 pp
2014 65.23 −1.54 pp
2013 66.77 −1.52 pp
2012 68.29 −1.54 pp
2011 69.84 −1.33 pp
2010 71.16 −1.28 pp
2009 72.45 −1.15 pp
2008 73.6 −1.09 pp
2007 74.7 −1.05 pp
2006 75.74 −1.08 pp
2005 76.82 +0.03 pp
2004 76.8 +0.16 pp
2003 76.64 +0.06 pp
2002 76.58 −0.03 pp
2001 76.61 −0.15 pp
2000 76.76 −0.05 pp
1999 76.81 −0.06 pp
1998 76.88 −0.18 pp
1997 77.06 +0.21 pp
1996 76.85 −0.03 pp
1995 76.88 +0.4 pp
1994 76.48 −0.28 pp
1993 76.76 +0.1 pp
1992 76.66 −0.09 pp
1991 76.75 —

Eastern Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

MG Madagascar 82.9 TZ Tanzania 82.4 UG Uganda 77.83 BI Burundi 77.53 ER Eritrea 73.66 MZ Mozambique 73.49 ET Ethiopia 66.19 KE Kenya 63.71 ZW Zimbabwe 61.42 MW Malawi 59.4 ZM Zambia 58.27 RW Rwanda 56.45 MU Mauritius 55.25 KM Comoros 53.64 SO Somalia 27.43 DJ Djibouti 23.49
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Malawi

Labor Labor productivity

How much output one employed person creates in a year — in constant PPP dollars.

Malawi by year Labor Unemployment rate

The share of the labor force that is looking for work and available to start.

Malawi by year Labor Labor force participation rate

What share of the population aged 15 and over works or looks for work.

Malawi by year Labor Self-employed

The share of workers who work for themselves — from entrepreneurs to the informally employed.

Malawi by year
All indicators for Malawi