ILO estimate of the unemployment rate in Malaysia
The ILO estimates the unemployment rate in Malaysia at 3.8% in 2025. The value for 2025 is the lowest since 2019.
Malaysia, 2025
3.8%
Change from 2024
−0.1percentage points
World, 2025
4.9%
Position in 2025
118th of 181
ILO estimate of the unemployment rate in Malaysia over time
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Malaysia
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of the labour force aged 15 and over. Source: ILO, ILOSTAT (ILO Modelled Estimates). Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years. Dashed lines are projections.
| Period | Malaysia | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.8% | 4.9% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | 4.9% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | 4.9% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 4.5% | 6.6% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | 5.6% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | 5.8% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | 5.9% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | 6.0% |
Flags: f Projection . A dash means no value was published.
In short
- That is a change of −0.1 percentage points from 3.8% in 2024.
- Since 2015, when it was 3.1%, the figure has changed by +0.7 percentage points.
- Among the 181 countries with data for 2025, Malaysia has the 118th highest value.
- The figure for the world in 2025 was 4.9%.
More for Malaysia
All statistics for Malaysia
ILO estimate of youth unemployment
12.0%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Labour force participation
66.1%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Women's labour force participation
51.6%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Employment-to-population ratio
63.6%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Employment in agriculture
9.2%
2025 · World Bank
Employment in industry
26.0%
2025 · World Bank