Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi

Malawi: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary was 26.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
26.2%
Change on year
down 13.9%
World rank
121st
of 132 countries
All-time high
30.4%
in 2017
All-time low
4.6%
in 1977
Years of data
8
1977–2020

Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi, 1977–2020

01020301977199820201977: 4.6 cumulative1987: 8.5 cumulative1998: 12.9 cumulative2005: 20.9 cumulative2011: 27 cumulative2015: 27.6 cumulative2017: 30.4 cumulative2020: 26.2 cumulative

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 26.2%, measured in 2020.

The figure is down 13.9% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi peaked at 30.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 1977.

That places Malawi 121st out of 132 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative) in Malawi, 1977 to 2020.
Year cumulative Change
1977 4.6%
1987 8.5% +84.4%
1998 12.9% +51.4%
2005 20.9% +61.8%
2011 27.0% +29.0%
2015 27.6% +2.3%
2017 30.4% +10.2%
2020 26.2% -13.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 4.6% 4.6% 4.6% 1
1980s 8.5% 8.5% 8.5% 1
1990s 12.9% 12.9% 12.9% 1
2000s 20.9% 20.9% 20.9% 1
2010s 28.3% 27.0% 30.4% 3
2020s 26.2% 26.2% 26.2% 1

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 118 Honduras 32.3% compare
  2. 119 Uganda 29.0% compare
  3. 120 Cambodia 29.0% compare
  4. 122 Afghanistan 24.1% compare
  5. 123 Mozambique 23.7% compare
  6. 124 Ethiopia 22.0% compare

See the full ranking of 132 places →

More education data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi?
Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi was 26.2% 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 30.4% in 2017.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 1977.
How does Malawi rank for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary?
Malawi ranks 121st out of 132 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 down 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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+, male (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-lower-secondary-population-25-male-percent/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
132 places, 1,897 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed lower secondary education.