Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi
Malawi: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary was 12.7% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi, 1977–2020
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi is 12.7%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 22.4% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi peaked at 16.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1977.
That places Malawi 121st out of 131 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 0.9% | — |
| 1987 | 2.2% | +136.8% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | +101.6% |
| 2005 | 7.7% | +76.7% |
| 2011 | 12.1% | +56.6% |
| 2015 | 13.2% | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | +24.5% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | -22.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 13.9% | 12.1% | 16.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 12.7% | 12.7% | 12.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 16.86 % change on previous year (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 41,351 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 46,483 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 40,807 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 21.25 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 54,184 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 13.94 % change on previous year (2022)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi?
- Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi was 12.7% in 2020, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 16.4% in 2017.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1977.
- How does Malawi rank for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary?
- Malawi ranks 121st out of 131 countries with data for 2020.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed lower secondary education.