Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi
Malawi: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 6.4 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 6.4 years for average years of schooling, males vs. females in 2023.
The figure is up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi peaked at 6.5 years in 2015 and was at its lowest, 3.06 years, in 1990.
That places Malawi 161st out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.06 years | — |
| 1991 | 3.12 years | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 3.17 years | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 3.23 years | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 3.29 years | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 3.34 years | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 3.42 years | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 3.5 years | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 3.58 years | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 3.75 years | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 3.92 years | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 4.1 years | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 4.27 years | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 4.44 years | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 4.61 years | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 4.78 years | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 4.95 years | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 5.13 years | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 5.3 years | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 5.47 years | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 5.64 years | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 5.81 years | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 5.99 years | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 6.16 years | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 6.33 years | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 6.5 years | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 6.48 years | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 6.46 years | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 6.44 years | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 6.42 years | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 6.4 years | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 6.4 years | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 6.4 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 6.4 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.35 years | 3.06 years | 3.75 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.7 years | 3.92 years | 5.47 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.22 years | 5.64 years | 6.5 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.4 years | 6.4 years | 6.4 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 566,616 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 5.16 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 94,991 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 16.86 % change on previous year (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 41,351 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 46,483 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 40,807 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 21.25 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 54,184 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 13.94 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi was 6.4 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 6.5 years in 2015.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.06 years in 1990.
- How does Malawi rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Malawi ranks 161st out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) men over 25 years participated in formal education.