Literacy rate in Malawi
Malawi: Literacy rate was 70.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate in Malawi, 1950–2020
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate in Malawi is 70.2%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.6% on the previous year and down 3.7% over five years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Malawi peaked at 76.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 7.5%, in 1950.
That places Malawi 105th out of 128 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 48.5% | 48.5% | 48.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 64.1% | 64.1% | 64.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 74.8% | 72.8% | 76.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 70.2% | 70.2% | 70.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- Duration of pre-primary education 3 years (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre-primary education 3 years (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)
- School enrollment, primary 139.0% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 87,834 (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. average years of schooling 3.59 live births per woman (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 140.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Malawi?
- Literacy rate in Malawi was 70.2% in 2020, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 76.7% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5% in 1950.
- How does Malawi rank for literacy rate?
- Malawi ranks 105th out of 128 countries with data for 2020.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.