Labor force, total in Malaysia
Malaysia: Labor force, total was 18.72 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Malaysia, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Malaysia stood at 18.72 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Malaysia peaked at 18.72 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6.30 million, in 1990.
That places Malaysia 36th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.30 million | — |
| 1991 | 6.52 million | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 6.77 million | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 7.03 million | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 7.28 million | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 7.55 million | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 7.82 million | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 8.10 million | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 8.39 million | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 8.69 million | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 9.00 million | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 9.32 million | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 9.64 million | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 9.98 million | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 10.32 million | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 10.69 million | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 11.07 million | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 11.46 million | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 11.87 million | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 12.30 million | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 12.72 million | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 13.11 million | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 13.64 million | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 14.17 million | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 14.72 million | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 15.10 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 15.42 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 15.78 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 16.21 million | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 16.64 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 16.87 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 17.23 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 17.73 million | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 18.06 million | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 18.39 million | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 18.72 million | +1.8% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 18.72 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 5.6× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 18.72 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.75 million, 5.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.44 million | 6.30 million | 8.69 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.57 million | 9.00 million | 12.30 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.75 million | 12.72 million | 16.64 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.83 million | 16.87 million | 18.72 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More education data for Malaysia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 217,105 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 475,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 460,041 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.64 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0859 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Malaysia?
- Labor force, total in Malaysia was 18.72 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.72 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.30 million in 1990.
- How does Malaysia rank for labor force, total?
- Malaysia ranks 36th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.