Completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Malawi
Malawi: Completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) was 29.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Malawi, 1981–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Malawi is 29.8%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 47.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Malawi peaked at 29.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 1981.
That places Malawi 153rd out of 164 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 5.9% | — |
| 1982 | 6.1% | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 6.4% | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 6.6% | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 6.8% | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 7.0% | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 7.3% | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 7.7% | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 8.0% | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 8.4% | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 9.0% | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 9.7% | +8.2% |
| 1993 | 10.6% | +9.2% |
| 1994 | 11.6% | +9.1% |
| 1995 | 12.6% | +8.4% |
| 1996 | 13.5% | +7.2% |
| 1997 | 14.3% | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 14.8% | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 15.1% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 15.1% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 15.2% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 15.8% | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 16.3% | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 17.1% | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 17.9% | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 19.0% | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 19.8% | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 20.3% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 20.3% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 20.2% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 20.0% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 19.8% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 19.8% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 20.2% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 21.2% | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 22.7% | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 24.1% | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 25.2% | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 26.1% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 26.8% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 27.6% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 28.3% | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 29.0% | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 29.8% | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.9% | 5.9% | 8.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 12.0% | 8.4% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.2% | 15.1% | 20.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.3% | 19.8% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.9% | 26.1% | 29.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 150 Tanzania, United Republic of 34.2% compare
- 151 Burundi 33.7% compare
- 152 Equatorial Guinea 32.3% compare
- 154 Ethiopia 29.5% compare
- 155 Uganda 29.3% compare
- 156 Madagascar 28.5% compare
More education data for Malawi
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 87,834 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 57.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.1% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 139.02 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 139.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Malawi?
- Completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Malawi was 29.8% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 29.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 1981.
- How does Malawi rank for completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data)?
- Malawi ranks 153rd out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Completion rate, lower secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release