Labor force, total in Malta
Malta: Labor force, total was 323,052 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Malta, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Malta stood at 323,052. 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 52.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Malta peaked at 323,052 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 135,337, in 1990.
Malta ranks 165th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 135,337 | — |
| 1991 | 139,378 | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 141,454 | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 143,435 | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 145,196 | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 146,820 | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 149,168 | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 151,563 | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 153,670 | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 155,364 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 155,461 | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 159,155 | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 160,625 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 161,729 | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 159,180 | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 162,570 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 164,624 | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 168,700 | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 171,139 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 174,214 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 177,951 | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 182,010 | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 188,723 | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 196,467 | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 204,859 | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 211,969 | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 220,741 | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 231,534 | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 247,175 | +6.8% |
| 2019 | 262,597 | +6.2% |
| 2020 | 274,659 | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 280,621 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 295,009 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 308,595 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 317,434 | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 323,052 | +1.8% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 323,052 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.08 million, 10% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Malta's 323,052 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.83 million, 7% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 146,138 | 135,337 | 155,364 | 10 |
| 2000s | 163,740 | 155,461 | 174,214 | 10 |
| 2010s | 212,403 | 177,951 | 262,597 | 10 |
| 2020s | 299,895 | 274,659 | 323,052 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More education data for Malta
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4,664 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 70 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4,949 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,626 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 32,424 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 27,337 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0495 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Malta?
- Labor force, total in Malta was 323,052 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 323,052 in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 135,337 in 1990.
- How does Malta rank for labor force, total?
- Malta ranks 165th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta 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.