Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi
Malawi: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary was 18.8% 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 18.8%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 17.7% on the previous year and down 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi peaked at 22.8% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1977.
That places Malawi 123rd out of 134 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 | 2.7% | — |
| 1987 | 5.2% | +94.6% |
| 1998 | 8.6% | +64.6% |
| 2005 | 14.2% | +66.1% |
| 2011 | 19.3% | +35.6% |
| 2015 | 19.7% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 22.8% | +16.2% |
| 2020 | 18.8% | -17.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 14.2% | 14.2% | 14.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 20.6% | 19.3% | 22.8% | 3 |
| 2020s | 18.8% | 18.8% | 18.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 87,834 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (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)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 139.02 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 139.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi?
- Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in Malawi was 18.8% 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 22.8% in 2017.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1977.
- How does Malawi rank for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary?
- Malawi ranks 123rd out of 134 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 2.5%. 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+, total (%) (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.