Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Malawi
Malawi: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes was 1.16 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.16 million
Change on year
up 5.8%
World rank
69th
of 219 countries
All-time high
1.20 million
in 2020
All-time low
65,634
in 1972
Years of data
50
1972–2023
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Malawi, 1972–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Malawi stood at 1.16 million.
The figure is up 5.8% on the previous year and up 36.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 1.20 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 65,634, in 1972.
That places Malawi 69th out of 219 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 65,634 | — |
| 1973 | 71,134 | +8.4% |
| 1974 | 70,050 | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 80,752 | +15.3% |
| 1976 | 85,974 | +6.5% |
| 1977 | 97,119 | +13.0% |
| 1978 | 106,026 | +9.2% |
| 1979 | 111,447 | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 130,975 | +17.5% |
| 1981 | 138,498 | +5.7% |
| 1982 | 149,532 | +8.0% |
| 1983 | 153,679 | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 163,391 | +6.3% |
| 1985 | 168,137 | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 174,752 | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 187,746 | +7.4% |
| 1988 | 194,387 | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 199,043 | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 212,075 | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 222,225 | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 257,558 | +15.9% |
| 1993 | 245,096 | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 218,707 | -10.8% |
| 1995 | 322,999 | +47.7% |
| 1996 | 343,314 | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 472,734 | +37.7% |
| 1999 | 556,322 | +17.7% |
| 2000 | 486,786 | -12.5% |
| 2001 | 518,251 | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 517,690 | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 505,303 | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 516,462 | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 565,467 | +9.5% |
| 2007 | 574,003 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 636,416 | +10.9% |
| 2009 | 666,679 | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 692,158 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 736,334 | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 761,366 | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 853,209 | +12.1% |
| 2014 | 920,229 | +7.9% |
| 2015 | 956,273 | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 867,830 | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 1.02 million | +17.9% |
| 2018 | 1.04 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 989,847 | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 1.20 million | +21.2% |
| 2021 | 1.08 million | -10.4% |
| 2022 | 1.10 million | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 1.16 million | +5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 86,017 | 65,634 | 111,447 | 8 |
| 1980s | 166,014 | 130,975 | 199,043 | 10 |
| 1990s | 316,781 | 212,075 | 556,322 | 9 |
| 2000s | 554,117 | 486,786 | 666,679 | 9 |
| 2010s | 884,129 | 692,158 | 1.04 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.13 million | 1.08 million | 1.20 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 66 Belgium 1.18 million compare
- 67 Cambodia 1.17 million compare
- 68 Sierra Leone 1.16 million compare
- 70 Guatemala 1.13 million compare
- 71 Mozambique 1.07 million compare
- 72 Azerbaijan 1.06 million compare
More education data for Malawi
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,021 tertiary education (2022)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0497 % change on previous year (2014)
- 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 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Malawi?
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Malawi was 1.16 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 1.20 million in 2020.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 65,634 in 1972.
- How does Malawi rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 69th out of 219 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.1%. 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 secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release