Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (%) (rate both sexes) in Malawi
Malawi: Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (%) (rate both sexes) was 49.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
49.3%
World rank
82nd
of 88 countries
All-time high
54.3%
in 2010
All-time low
41.2%
in 2000
Years of data
8
2000–2020
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes in Malawi, 2000–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, completion rate, primary education, both sexes in Malawi stood at 49.3%.
That represents a change of down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, primary education, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 54.3% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 41.2%, in 2000.
Malawi ranks 82nd of 88 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (%) (rate both sexes) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 41.2% | — |
| 2004 | 50.1% | +21.4% |
| 2006 | 43.7% | -12.7% |
| 2008 | 49.6% | +13.5% |
| 2010 | 54.3% | +9.5% |
| 2014 | 48.1% | -11.5% |
| 2015 | 46.8% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 49.3% | +5.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 49.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 49.7%, 99% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 49.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 62.7%, 79% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 46.2% | 41.2% | 50.1% | 4 |
| 2010s | 49.7% | 46.8% | 54.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 49.3% | 49.3% | 49.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 14,528 (2019)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1.25 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.75 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2193 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.75 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, primary education, both sexes in Malawi?
- Completion rate, primary education, both sexes in Malawi was 49.3% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, primary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 54.3% in 2010.
- What is the lowest completion rate, primary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.2% in 2000.
- How does Malawi rank for completion rate, primary education, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 82nd out of 88 countries with data for 2020.
- Is completion rate, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. 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, primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release