Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta
Malta: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 2.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Malta recorded 2.9% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.6% on the previous year and down 46.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta peaked at 7.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2025.
Malta ranks 150th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6.3% | — |
| 1992 | 6.3% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 6.3% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 6.3% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 6.3% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 6.3% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 6.3% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 6.3% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 6.3% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 7.1% | +12.4% |
| 2002 | 6.9% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | +8.5% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 6.9% | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 6.8% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 6.0% | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 6.9% | +15.4% |
| 2010 | 6.9% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 6.4% | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 6.2% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 6.1% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 5.7% | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 4.7% | -12.9% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -14.6% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | +19.0% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | -22.7% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 3.1% | -10.9% |
| 2025 | 2.9% | -6.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.3% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 6.0% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 4.0% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 2.9% | 4.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More education data for Malta
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 27,337 (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.1 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0495 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13,080 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Malta was 2.9% 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 7.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2025.
- How does Malta rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Malta ranks 150th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malta 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.