Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (%) (upper) in Malawi
Malawi: Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (%) (upper) was 15.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in Malawi, 2000–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in Malawi is 15.5%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 20.3% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 2000.
That places Malawi 87th out of 95 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (%) (upper) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.2% | — |
| 2004 | 13.2% | +43.2% |
| 2006 | 20.3% | +53.4% |
| 2008 | 13.7% | -32.7% |
| 2010 | 15.4% | +12.6% |
| 2014 | 10.5% | -31.6% |
| 2015 | 14.0% | +33.3% |
| 2020 | 15.5% | +10.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 15.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 16.9%, 91% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 15.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.7%, 87% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.1% | 9.2% | 20.3% | 4 |
| 2010s | 13.3% | 10.5% | 15.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 15.5% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 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, upper secondary education, both sexes in Malawi?
- Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in Malawi was 15.5% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 20.3% in 2006.
- What is the lowest completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 2000.
- How does Malawi rank for completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 87th out of 95 countries with data for 2020.
- Is completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. 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, upper secondary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release