Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malawi
Malawi: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 36.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
36.6%
Change on year
down 12.2%
World rank
67th
of 85 countries
All-time high
41.7%
in 2018
All-time low
24.8%
in 1987
Years of data
5
1987–2020
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malawi, 1987–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malawi stood at 36.6%.
That represents a change of down 12.2% on the previous year and down 1.4% over five years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 41.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 24.8%, in 1987.
Malawi ranks 67th of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 24.8% | — |
| 1998 | 35.7% | +44.1% |
| 2017 | 37.2% | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 41.7% | +12.2% |
| 2020 | 36.6% | -12.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 24.8% | 24.8% | 24.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 35.7% | 35.7% | 35.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 39.4% | 37.2% | 41.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 36.6% | 36.6% | 36.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.75 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malawi?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malawi was 36.6% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 41.7% in 2018.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.8% in 1987.
- How does Malawi rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 67th out of 85 countries with data for 2020.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release