Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malta
Malta: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 3.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malta, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malta is 3.1%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and down 42.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malta peaked at 8.5% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2025.
Malta ranks 144th of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 8.5% | — |
| 1985 | 8.1% | -4.7% |
| 1986 | 6.8% | -16.0% |
| 1987 | 4.4% | -35.3% |
| 1988 | 4.0% | -9.1% |
| 1989 | 3.7% | -7.5% |
| 1990 | 3.9% | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | -7.7% |
| 1992 | 4.0% | +11.1% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | +12.5% |
| 1994 | 4.1% | -8.9% |
| 1995 | 3.7% | -9.8% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | +18.9% |
| 1997 | 5.0% | +13.6% |
| 1998 | 5.1% | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 5.3% | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | +19.3% |
| 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 | 3.2% | -8.0% |
| 2025 | 3.1% | -3.1% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 3.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 63% of the median. (77 countries reporting)
- Malta's 3.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7.0%, 45% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.9% | 3.7% | 8.5% | 6 |
| 1990s | 4.4% | 3.6% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 6.0% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 4.0% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.1% | 4.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More reference data data for Malta
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0121 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0042 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0205 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0008 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0205 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0404 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0227 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0192 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1009 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0043 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malta?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Malta was 3.1% in 2025, 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 1983.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2025.
- How does Malta rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Malta ranks 144th out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malta 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 — 42 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.