Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Malawi
Malawi: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 17.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed upper 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 upper secondary in Malawi is 17.6%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and up 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Malawi peaked at 18.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1977.
Malawi ranks 125th of 140 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Malawi, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 2.1% | — |
| 1987 | 4.1% | +98.6% |
| 1998 | 8.1% | +97.2% |
| 2005 | 12.0% | +47.0% |
| 2011 | 15.3% | +27.8% |
| 2013 | 17.4% | +13.6% |
| 2015 | 18.2% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 18.5% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 17.6% | -5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 8.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 17.3% | 15.3% | 18.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 17.6% | 17.6% | 17.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- 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)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,021 tertiary education (2022)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0497 % change on previous year (2014)
- 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 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Malawi?
- Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Malawi was 17.6% in 2020, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 18.5% in 2017.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1977.
- How does Malawi rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
- Malawi ranks 125th out of 140 countries with data for 2020.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.8%. 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 upper secondary, population 25+, male (%) (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 upper secondary education.