Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malawi

Malawi: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 15.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
15.4%
World rank
11th
of 185 countries
All-time high
15.4%
in 2024
All-time low
0.0%
in 1998
Years of data
10
1983–2024

Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malawi, 1983–2024

0510151983200320241983: 5.4 %1987: 1.3 %1998: 0 %2004: 4.5 %2005: 0.942 %2011: 1.7 %2013: 5 %2017: 3.8 %2020: 0.907 %2024: 15.4 %

Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Malawi recorded 15.4% for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in 2024. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

The figure is up 209.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malawi peaked at 15.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1998.

That places Malawi 11th out of 185 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 3.4% 1.3% 5.4% 2
1990s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1
2000s 2.7% 0.9% 4.5% 2
2010s 3.5% 1.7% 5.0% 3
2020s 8.2% 0.9% 15.4% 2

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 8 Lesotho 18.7% compare
  2. 9 Jordan 16.8% compare
  3. 10 Iraq 16.2% compare
  4. 12 Tunisia 15.1% compare
  5. 13 Syria 14.9% compare
  6. 14 Guyana 14.7% compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More reference data data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malawi?
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malawi was 15.4% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 15.4% in 2024.
What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1998.
How does Malawi rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
Malawi ranks 11th out of 185 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 209.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malawi data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates
Unit
%
Source
Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
185 places, 5,169 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.