Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Malawi
Malawi: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square was 49.04 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Malawi, 1971–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 49.04 units per square kilometre for enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in 2023. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.8% on the previous year and up 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Malawi peaked at 49.04 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.34 units per square kilometre, in 1971.
Malawi ranks 18th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Malawi, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.34 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1972 | 4.02 units per square kilometre | +20.4% |
| 1973 | 4.51 units per square kilometre | +12.2% |
| 1974 | 5.12 units per square kilometre | +13.5% |
| 1975 | 5.79 units per square kilometre | +13.2% |
| 1976 | 6.06 units per square kilometre | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 6.18 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 6.22 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 6.49 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 7.08 units per square kilometre | +9.0% |
| 1981 | 7.33 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 8 units per square kilometre | +9.2% |
| 1983 | 7.82 units per square kilometre | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 7.51 units per square kilometre | -4.0% |
| 1985 | 8.03 units per square kilometre | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 8.43 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 9.15 units per square kilometre | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 9.56 units per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 10.97 units per square kilometre | +14.8% |
| 1990 | 12.14 units per square kilometre | +10.7% |
| 1991 | 12.86 units per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 15.66 units per square kilometre | +21.8% |
| 1993 | 16.86 units per square kilometre | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 18.31 units per square kilometre | +8.6% |
| 1995 | 27.46 units per square kilometre | +50.0% |
| 1996 | 27.62 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 26.79 units per square kilometre | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 27.38 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 28.58 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 30.18 units per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 30.19 units per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 30.14 units per square kilometre | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 30.42 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 31.12 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 31.22 units per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 33.92 units per square kilometre | +8.7% |
| 2009 | 34.47 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 36.25 units per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 37.7 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 39.11 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 41.91 units per square kilometre | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 43.45 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 44.6 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 45.4 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 47.03 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 48.06 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 48.72 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 48.32 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 45.39 units per square kilometre | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 45.48 units per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 49.04 units per square kilometre | +7.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 49.04 units per square kilometre is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.74 units per square kilometre, 5.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 49.04 units per square kilometre is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.28 units per square kilometre, 4.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +50.0% | 18.31 units per square kilometre | 27.46 units per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.3 units per square kilometre | 3.34 units per square kilometre | 6.49 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1980s | 8.39 units per square kilometre | 7.08 units per square kilometre | 10.97 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.57 units per square kilometre | 12.14 units per square kilometre | 27.62 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 2000s | 31.14 units per square kilometre | 28.58 units per square kilometre | 34.47 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 2010s | 43.22 units per square kilometre | 36.25 units per square kilometre | 48.72 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.06 units per square kilometre | 45.39 units per square kilometre | 49.04 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 15 Comoros 64.58 units per square kilometre compare
- 16 Bermuda 62.54 units per square kilometre compare
- 17 Lebanon 51.24 units per square kilometre compare
- 19 Israel 47.96 units per square kilometre compare
- 20 Tuvalu 47.27 units per square kilometre compare
- 21 Mauritius 44.57 units per square kilometre compare
More education data for Malawi
- 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Malawi?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in Malawi was 49.04 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 49.04 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.34 units per square kilometre in 1971.
- How does Malawi rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square?
- Malawi ranks 18th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.