Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Malawi

Malawi: Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ was 37.8% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
37.8%
World rank
124th
of 135 countries
All-time high
37.8%
in 2020
All-time low
2.5%
in 1977
Years of data
5
1977–2020

Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Malawi, 1977–2020

0102030401977199820201977: 2.5 cumulative1987: 5.9 cumulative1998: 11.1 cumulative2015: 37.7 cumulative2020: 37.8 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 primary, population 25+ in Malawi is 37.8%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Malawi peaked at 37.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1977.

That places Malawi 124th out of 135 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, female (%) (cumulative) in Malawi, 1977 to 2020.
Year cumulative Change
1977 2.5%
1987 5.9% +129.6%
1998 11.1% +90.4%
2015 37.7% +238.0%
2020 37.8% +0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 1
1980s 5.9% 5.9% 5.9% 1
1990s 11.1% 11.1% 11.1% 1
2010s 37.7% 37.7% 37.7% 1
2020s 37.8% 37.8% 37.8% 1

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 121 Rwanda 40.5% compare
  2. 122 Uganda 39.2% compare
  3. 123 Pakistan 38.3% compare
  4. 125 Nepal 36.4% compare
  5. 126 Togo 31.3% compare
  6. 127 Mozambique 24.7% compare

See the full ranking of 135 places →

More education data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Malawi?
Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Malawi was 37.8% in 2020, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 37.8% in 2020.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1977.
How does Malawi rank for educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+?
Malawi ranks 124th out of 135 countries with data for 2020.
Is educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. 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 primary, population 25+ years, female (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-primary-population-25-years-female-percent/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, female (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
135 places, 2,219 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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