Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malawi
Malawi: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 15.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malawi, 1983–2024
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.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 5.4% | — |
| 1987 | 1.3% | -75.7% |
| 1998 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | — |
| 2005 | 0.9% | -78.9% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | +84.3% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | +186.8% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | -24.3% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | -75.9% |
| 2024 | 15.4% | +1598.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 15.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.5%, 2.8× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 15.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 2.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More reference data data for Malawi
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1596 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3426 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5353 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.6012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.87 (2050)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.