Educational attainment rate … both short-cycle tertiary urban in Malawi
Malawi: Educational attainment rate … both short-cycle tertiary urban was 8.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Malawi, 1998–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Malawi is 8.5%, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 68.8% on the previous year and up 70.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Malawi peaked at 11.1% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1998.
That places Malawi 96th out of 101 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Educational attainment rate … both short-cycle tertiary urban in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2.4% | — |
| 2005 | 3.9% | +60.6% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | +26.8% |
| 2013 | 11.1% | +121.8% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | -54.6% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | +68.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 8.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.9%, 57% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 8.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.8%, 66% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.0% | 5.0% | 11.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.49 (2007)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.57 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 14,528 (2019)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1.25 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.75 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2193 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Malawi?
- Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Malawi was 8.5% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 11.1% in 2013.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1998.
- How does Malawi rank for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
- Malawi ranks 96th out of 101 countries with data for 2020.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.1%. 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 rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release