Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malawi
Malawi: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 5.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malawi, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Malawi recorded 5.1% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malawi peaked at 5.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 1997.
Malawi ranks 98th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.9% | — |
| 1992 | 5.1% | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 5.4% | +7.6% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | -8.8% |
| 1996 | 4.9% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 4.7% | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 5.0% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 5.0% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 5.2% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 5.2% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 5.2% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 4.8% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 4.7% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 5.7% | +15.2% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | -11.2% |
| 2023 | 5.0% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 5.1% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 5.1% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.0% | 4.7% | 5.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 4.7% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 5.0% | 5.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.75 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2193 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.75 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.2193 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.40 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malawi?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malawi was 5.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 1997.
- How does Malawi rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Malawi ranks 98th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.