Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Malawi
Malawi: Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population was 82.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Malawi, 1977–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 82.6% for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in 2020. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Malawi peaked at 82.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 44.6%, in 1977.
That places Malawi 109th out of 136 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 44.6% | — |
| 1987 | 45.0% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 57.1% | +26.8% |
| 2005 | 65.2% | +14.2% |
| 2011 | 72.1% | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 80.1% | +11.2% |
| 2017 | 79.6% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 82.6% | +3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 44.6% | 44.6% | 44.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 45.0% | 45.0% | 45.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 57.1% | 57.1% | 57.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 65.2% | 65.2% | 65.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 77.3% | 72.1% | 80.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 82.6% | 82.6% | 82.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 106 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 84.2% compare
- 107 Ghana 82.9% compare
- 108 Tunisia 82.8% compare
- 110 Lao People's Democratic Republic 80.8% compare
- 111 Syria 79.1% compare
- 112 Tanzania, United Republic of 79.0% compare
More education data for Malawi
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 5.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 87,834 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 594,322 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 6.48 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 566,616 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 5.16 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 94,991 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 16.86 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Malawi?
- Educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Malawi was 82.6% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 82.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.6% in 1977.
- How does Malawi rank for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population?
- Malawi ranks 109th out of 136 countries with data for 2020.
- Is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release