Malawi Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Malawi's youth unemployment was 6.95% in 2025, ranked 42nd globally. This represents a 0.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Malawi's youth unemployment stood at 6.95% in 2025, a rise of +0.06pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 6.63% by 2026. Malawi ranked 42nd globally.
Malawi’s youth unemployment rate has risen modestly over the 35‑year series, moving from 6.70 % in 1991 to 6.95 % in 2025, which places the country 42nd globally. The indicator reached its all‑time high of 7.83 % in 2020, a spike that coincided with the COVID‑19 pandemic’s disruption of informal labour markets, before retreating to the current level that remains above the all‑time low of 6.44 % recorded in 1997. Compared with peers of similar rank, Malawi’s rate is slightly lower than the Philippines (7.04 %) and higher than Germany (6.86 %), suggesting that structural constraints in the labour market are less severe than in some lower‑income neighbours such as Guinea (7.02 %) but more pronounced than in advanced economies. The recent modest increase implies that without targeted policies to expand vocational training and improve access to productive sectors, the upward trajectory may continue, whereas sustained investment in youth‑oriented programmes could reverse the trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 6.37% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 6.50% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 6.63% | - | - |
| 2025 | 6.95% | +0.06pp | #42 |
| 2024 | 6.89% | +0.05pp | #42 |
| 2023 | 6.84% | −0.01pp | #41 |
| 2022 | 6.85% | −0.78pp | #42 |
| 2021 | 7.63% | −0.20pp | #35 |
| 2020 | 7.83% | +1.02pp | #35 |
| 2019 | 6.81% | −0.04pp | #38 |
| 2018 | 6.85% | −0.01pp | #41 |
| 2017 | 6.87% | +0.05pp | #37 |
| 2016 | 6.82% | +0.07pp | #37 |
| 2015 | 6.75% | −0.00pp | #34 |
| 2014 | 6.75% | +0.00pp | #35 |
| 2013 | 6.75% | +0.04pp | #36 |
| 2012 | 6.71% | +0.13pp | #33 |
| 2011 | 6.58% | +0.06pp | #31 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's youth unemployment was 6.95% in 2025. Ranked 42nd globally. This represents a 0.8% increase from the previous year.
Malawi's youth unemployment peaked at 7.83% in 2020.
The lowest youth unemployment in Malawi was 6.44% in 1997.
Malawi ranks 42nd globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's youth unemployment is projected to reach 6.63% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Malawi in 2025 was 6.95%. This ranks 42nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_youth-unemployment,
title = {Malawi Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}