Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in Malawi
Malawi: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) was 1.16 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
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 (number) 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% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1.16 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.07 million, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1.16 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 901,617, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) 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 | +47.7% | 218,707 | 322,999 |
| 1998 | +37.7% | 343,314 | 472,734 |
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
- 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 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