Cross country literacy rates in Malawi
Malawi: Cross country literacy rates was 70.15 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
70.15
Change on year
down 8.6%
World rank
105th
of 128 countries
All-time high
76.72
in 2018
All-time low
7.5
in 1950
Years of data
6
1950–2020
Cross country literacy rates in Malawi, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cross country literacy rates in Malawi is 70.15, 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, cross country literacy rates in Malawi peaked at 76.72 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.
Cross country literacy rates in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7.5 | — |
| 1987 | 48.54 | +547.2% |
| 1998 | 64.13 | +32.1% |
| 2017 | 72.83 | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 76.72 | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 70.15 | -8.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 70.15 is above the median for low income countries, which is 61.06, 1.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 70.15 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.87, 99% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 1 |
| 1980s | 48.54 | 48.54 | 48.54 | 1 |
| 1990s | 64.13 | 64.13 | 64.13 | 1 |
| 2010s | 74.77 | 72.83 | 76.72 | 2 |
| 2020s | 70.15 | 70.15 | 70.15 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 cross country literacy rates in Malawi?
- Cross country literacy rates in Malawi was 70.15 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cross country literacy rates recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 76.72 in 2018.
- What is the lowest cross country literacy rates recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5 in 1950.
- How does Malawi rank for cross country literacy rates?
- Malawi ranks 105th out of 128 countries with data for 2020.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Cross country literacy rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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