Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Malaysia

Labor force participation rate in Malaysia in 2025 — 66.12%. Ranked 51 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 9.84 pp.

2025 66.12% +0.01 pp vs 2024
World rank 51of 182
Period maximum 66.22%2022
Period minimum 56.28%1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Malaysia, 1990–20255557.56062.56567.519901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 56.28%1991: 56.32%1992: 56.68%1993: 57.04%1994: 57.4%1995: 57.77%1996: 58.15%1997: 58.53%1998: 58.9%1999: 59.26%2000: 59.54%2001: 59.72%2002: 59.85%2003: 59.98%2004: 60.11%2005: 60.27%2006: 60.46%2007: 60.69%2008: 60.96%2009: 61.27%2010: 61.6%2011: 61.94%2012: 62.95%2013: 63.96%2014: 64.96%2015: 65.19%2016: 65.09%2017: 65.2%2018: 65.57%2019: 65.87%2020: 65.47%2021: 65.62%2022: 66.22%2023: 66.18%2024: 66.11%2025: 66.12%
Change over the period: +9.84 pp Annual average: 0.28 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Malaysia 66.12%
World 60.98%
South-Eastern Asia computed 66.68%
Labor force participation rate — Malaysia, by year Malaysia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 66.12 +0.01 pp
2024 66.11 −0.07 pp
2023 66.18 −0.05 pp
2022 66.22 +0.6 pp
2021 65.62 +0.15 pp
2020 65.47 −0.4 pp
2019 65.87 +0.3 pp
2018 65.57 +0.37 pp
2017 65.2 +0.11 pp
2016 65.09 −0.09 pp
2015 65.19 +0.22 pp
2014 64.96 +1 pp
2013 63.96 +1.01 pp
2012 62.95 +1.02 pp
2011 61.94 +0.34 pp
2010 61.6 +0.33 pp
2009 61.27 +0.31 pp
2008 60.96 +0.27 pp
2007 60.69 +0.23 pp
2006 60.46 +0.19 pp
2005 60.27 +0.15 pp
2004 60.11 +0.13 pp
2003 59.98 +0.13 pp
2002 59.85 +0.13 pp
2001 59.72 +0.18 pp
2000 59.54 +0.28 pp
1999 59.26 +0.36 pp
1998 58.9 +0.37 pp
1997 58.53 +0.38 pp
1996 58.15 +0.38 pp
1995 57.77 +0.37 pp
1994 57.4 +0.36 pp
1993 57.04 +0.36 pp
1992 56.68 +0.36 pp
1991 56.32 +0.03 pp
1990 56.28

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.