Contact Contacts
Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Malawi

Labor force participation rate in Malawi in 2025 — 62.58%. Ranked 85 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 18.08 pp.

2025 62.58% −0.35 pp vs 2024
World rank 85of 182
Period maximum 80.86%1999
Period minimum 62.58%2025

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Malawi, 1990–202560657075808519901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 80.65%1991: 80.7%1992: 80.75%1993: 80.79%1994: 80.82%1995: 80.84%1996: 80.84%1997: 80.85%1998: 80.86%1999: 80.86%2000: 80.84%2001: 80.83%2002: 80.82%2003: 80.82%2004: 80.81%2005: 80.81%2006: 79.69%2007: 78.52%2008: 77.31%2009: 76.05%2010: 74.74%2011: 73.38%2012: 71.85%2013: 70.27%2014: 68.64%2015: 66.96%2016: 65.23%2017: 63.47%2018: 63.37%2019: 63.27%2020: 68.26%2021: 62.93%2022: 63.07%2023: 63%2024: 62.93%2025: 62.58%
Change over the period: −18.08 pp Annual average: -0.52 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Malawi 62.58%
World 60.98%
Sub-Saharan Africa 70.32%
Eastern Africa computed 71.67%
Low-income countries computed 64.2%
Labor force participation rate — Malawi, by year Malawi All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 62.58 −0.35 pp
2024 62.93 −0.07 pp
2023 63 −0.07 pp
2022 63.07 +0.14 pp
2021 62.93 −5.33 pp
2020 68.26 +4.99 pp
2019 63.27 −0.1 pp
2018 63.37 −0.09 pp
2017 63.47 −1.77 pp
2016 65.23 −1.72 pp
2015 66.96 −1.68 pp
2014 68.64 −1.63 pp
2013 70.27 −1.58 pp
2012 71.85 −1.53 pp
2011 73.38 −1.36 pp
2010 74.74 −1.31 pp
2009 76.05 −1.26 pp
2008 77.31 −1.22 pp
2007 78.52 −1.17 pp
2006 79.69 −1.12 pp
2005 80.81 +0 pp
2004 80.81 −0.01 pp
2003 80.82 −0.01 pp
2002 80.82 −0.01 pp
2001 80.83 −0.01 pp
2000 80.84 −0.02 pp
1999 80.86 +0 pp
1998 80.86 +0.01 pp
1997 80.85 +0 pp
1996 80.84 +0.01 pp
1995 80.84 +0.02 pp
1994 80.82 +0.03 pp
1993 80.79 +0.04 pp
1992 80.75 +0.05 pp
1991 80.7 +0.05 pp
1990 80.65 —

Eastern Africa, 2025

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

MG Madagascar 85.5 TZ Tanzania 83.72 UG Uganda 80.03 MZ Mozambique 78.71 ER Eritrea 78.35 BI Burundi 78.26 ET Ethiopia 68.46 ZW Zimbabwe 67.72 KE Kenya 67.39 RW Rwanda 63.68 MW Malawi 62.58 ZM Zambia 61.93 MU Mauritius 58.55 KM Comoros 55.77 SO Somalia 33.85 DJ Djibouti 31.74
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

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

Other indicators for Malawi

Labor Female labor force participation rate

The share of women aged 15 and over who work or look for work — the main indicator of access to employment.

Malawi by year Labor Labor force

The number of people employed or actively looking for work — the economically active population.

Malawi by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

The share of the population aged 15 and over that actually works.

Malawi by year Demography Age dependency ratio

How many dependents — children and older people — there are per 100 people of working age.

Malawi by year
All indicators for Malawi