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

Malawi: Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ was 57.7% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
57.7%
World rank
121st
of 134 countries
All-time high
59.0%
in 2015
All-time low
12.7%
in 1977
Years of data
5
1977–2020

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

1020304050601977199820201977: 12.7 cumulative1987: 21.3 cumulative1998: 28.8 cumulative2015: 59 cumulative2020: 57.7 cumulative

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.

Analysis

In 2020, educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Malawi stood at 57.7%.

That represents a change of down 2.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Malawi peaked at 59.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 1977.

That places Malawi 121st out of 134 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, male (%) (cumulative) in Malawi, 1977 to 2020.
Year cumulative Change
1977 12.7%
1987 21.3% +68.1%
1998 28.8% +35.2%
2015 59.0% +105.0%
2020 57.7% -2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 12.7% 12.7% 12.7% 1
1980s 21.3% 21.3% 21.3% 1
1990s 28.8% 28.8% 28.8% 1
2010s 59.0% 59.0% 59.0% 1
2020s 57.7% 57.7% 57.7% 1

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 118 Kuwait 59.8% compare
  2. 119 Nepal 59.0% compare
  3. 120 Togo 58.3% compare
  4. 122 Bangladesh 57.7% compare
  5. 123 Cambodia 57.0% compare
  6. 124 Uganda 52.3% compare

See the full ranking of 134 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 57.7% 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 59.0% in 2015.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 1977.
How does Malawi rank for educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+?
Malawi ranks 121st out of 134 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 down 2.1%. 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 primary, population 25+ years, male (%) (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 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-primary-population-25-years-male-percent/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, male (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
134 places, 2,259 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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