Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malawi
Malawi: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 4.75 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.75 million
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
35th
of 218 countries
All-time high
4.75 million
in 2024
All-time low
314,629
in 1971
Years of data
52
1971–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malawi, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 4.75 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 4.75 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 314,629, in 1971.
Malawi ranks 35th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 314,629 | — |
| 1972 | 378,812 | +20.4% |
| 1973 | 424,983 | +12.2% |
| 1974 | 482,304 | +13.5% |
| 1975 | 546,085 | +13.2% |
| 1976 | 571,389 | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 583,039 | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 586,759 | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 611,983 | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 667,222 | +9.0% |
| 1981 | 691,245 | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 754,588 | +9.2% |
| 1983 | 736,816 | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 707,699 | -4.0% |
| 1985 | 757,334 | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 794,782 | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 862,834 | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 901,327 | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 1.03 million | +14.8% |
| 1990 | 1.14 million | +10.7% |
| 1991 | 1.21 million | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 1.48 million | +21.8% |
| 1993 | 1.59 million | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 1.73 million | +8.6% |
| 1995 | 2.59 million | +50.0% |
| 1996 | 2.60 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 2.53 million | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 2.58 million | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 2.69 million | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 2.85 million | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 2.85 million | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2.84 million | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 2.87 million | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 2.93 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 2.94 million | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 3.20 million | +8.7% |
| 2009 | 3.25 million | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 3.42 million | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 3.55 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 3.69 million | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 3.95 million | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 4.10 million | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 4.20 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 4.28 million | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 4.43 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 4.53 million | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 4.59 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 4.56 million | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 4.28 million | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 4.29 million | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 4.62 million | +7.8% |
| 2024 | 4.75 million | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 499,998 | 314,629 | 611,983 | 9 |
| 1980s | 790,819 | 667,222 | 1.03 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.94 million | 1.14 million | 2.60 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.94 million | 2.69 million | 3.25 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 4.08 million | 3.42 million | 4.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.50 million | 4.28 million | 4.75 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- 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 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 57.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.1% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 139.02 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 139.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malawi?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Malawi was 4.75 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 4.75 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 314,629 in 1971.
- How does Malawi rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 35th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release