Completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes (%) (rate urban) in Malawi
Malawi: Completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes (%) (rate urban) was 75.4% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Latest (2020)
75.4%
World rank
71st
of 83 countries
All-time high
78.8%
in 2004
All-time low
68.1%
in 2006
Years of data
8
2000–2020
Completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes in Malawi, 2000–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes in Malawi stood at 75.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 78.8% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 68.1%, in 2006.
Malawi ranks 71st of 83 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes (%) (rate urban) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 73.7% | — |
| 2004 | 78.8% | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 68.1% | -13.6% |
| 2008 | 75.0% | +10.2% |
| 2010 | 74.2% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 77.3% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 73.1% | -5.4% |
| 2020 | 75.4% | +3.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 75.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 71.9%, 1.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 75.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 78.8%, 96% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 73.9% | 68.1% | 78.8% | 4 |
| 2010s | 74.8% | 73.1% | 77.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 75.4% | 75.4% | 75.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 68 Sierra Leone 84.1% compare
- 69 Ethiopia 81.2% compare
- 70 Cote d'Ivoire 76.4% compare
- 72 Madagascar 75.3% compare
- 73 Rwanda 73.9% compare
- 74 Gambia 69.8% compare
More education data for Malawi
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.49 (2007)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.57 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes in Malawi?
- Completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes in Malawi was 75.4% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 78.8% in 2004.
- What is the lowest completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.1% in 2006.
- How does Malawi rank for completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 71st out of 83 countries with data for 2020.
- Is completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Completion rate, primary education, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release