Malta — Unemployment
Unemployment Rate for Malta, 1991–2025.
Unemployment for Malta was 2.90% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1991 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 7.49% in 2003. Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -2.28% per year.
Malta ranks 151 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 81%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 9.00%, so Malta sits below it. It peaked in 2003 and has fallen 61% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 46%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 19 of 23 economies; Kuwait (2.18%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was down 23% in 2021. That is 27% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 91st of 187 in 1991 → 102nd of 187 in 2000 → 97th of 187 in 2010 → 128th of 187 in 2020 → 146th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1991 to 2025
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.9% | -0.2 pp |
| 2024 | 3.1% | -0.4 pp |
| 2023 | 3.48% | +0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 3.47% | -0.3 pp |
| 2021 | 3.75% | -1.1 pp |
| 2020 | 4.86% | +0.8 pp |
| 2019 | 4.08% | +0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 3.96% | -0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 4.01% | -0.7 pp |
| 2016 | 4.69% | -0.7 pp |
| 2015 | 5.39% | -0.3 pp |
| 2014 | 5.74% | -0.4 pp |
| 2013 | 6.12% | -0.1 pp |
| 2012 | 6.2% | -0.2 pp |
| 2011 | 6.39% | -0.5 pp |
| 2010 | 6.86% | -0.0 pp |
| 2009 | 6.9% | +0.9 pp |
| 2008 | 5.98% | -0.5 pp |
| 2007 | 6.47% | -0.3 pp |
| 2006 | 6.8% | -0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 6.92% | -0.4 pp |
| 2004 | 7.32% | -0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 7.49% | +0.6 pp |
| 2002 | 6.9% | -0.2 pp |
| 2001 | 7.11% | +0.8 pp |
| 2000 | 6.32% | -0.0 pp |
| 1999 | 6.33% | -0.0 pp |
| 1998 | 6.33% | -0.0 pp |
| 1997 | 6.33% | -0.0 pp |
| 1996 | 6.33% | -0.0 pp |
| 1995 | 6.33% | -0.0 pp |
| 1994 | 6.33% | -0.0 pp |
| 1993 | 6.33% | -0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 6.33% | -0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 6.34% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Malta’s Unemployment in 1992?
6.33% (1992). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of total labor force, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Malta’s Unemployment growing or shrinking?
Between 1991 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -54.3% in total — about 2.3% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 2.9%; 2024: 3.1%; 2023: 3.48%; 2022: 3.47%; 2021: 3.75%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS — Unemployment Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.