Enrolment in secondary education, female (number) (secondary female) in Malawi
Malawi: Enrolment in secondary education, female (number) (secondary female) was 594,322 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in secondary education, female in Malawi, 1972–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in secondary education, female in Malawi is 594,322, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.5% on the previous year and up 47.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, female in Malawi peaked at 640,925 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 20,420, in 1973.
That places Malawi 69th out of 218 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, female (number) (secondary female) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 21,844 | — |
| 1973 | 20,420 | -6.5% |
| 1975 | 22,907 | +12.2% |
| 1976 | 24,321 | +6.2% |
| 1977 | 27,559 | +13.3% |
| 1978 | 29,765 | +8.0% |
| 1979 | 32,513 | +9.2% |
| 1980 | 39,948 | +22.9% |
| 1981 | 40,575 | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 45,143 | +11.3% |
| 1983 | 47,778 | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 51,533 | +7.9% |
| 1985 | 54,901 | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 58,673 | +6.9% |
| 1987 | 64,505 | +9.9% |
| 1988 | 69,238 | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 71,360 | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 77,496 | +8.6% |
| 1991 | 83,685 | +8.0% |
| 1993 | 91,870 | +9.8% |
| 1994 | 86,417 | -5.9% |
| 1995 | 130,423 | +50.9% |
| 1996 | 138,457 | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 229,352 | +65.6% |
| 2000 | 208,415 | -9.1% |
| 2001 | 225,945 | +8.4% |
| 2002 | 225,730 | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 225,228 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 230,926 | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 257,191 | +11.4% |
| 2007 | 259,605 | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 290,244 | +11.8% |
| 2009 | 309,146 | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 327,260 | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 349,088 | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 357,591 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 403,014 | +12.7% |
| 2014 | 436,540 | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 456,378 | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 447,993 | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 507,771 | +13.3% |
| 2018 | 515,621 | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 448,618 | -13.0% |
| 2020 | 640,925 | +42.9% |
| 2021 | 545,049 | -15.0% |
| 2022 | 558,162 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 594,322 | +6.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 594,322 is above the median for low income countries, which is 512,577, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 594,322 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 421,573, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in secondary education, female (number) (secondary female) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +65.6% | 138,457 | 229,352 |
| 1995 | +50.9% | 86,417 | 130,423 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25,618 | 20,420 | 32,513 | 7 |
| 1980s | 54,365 | 39,948 | 71,360 | 10 |
| 1990s | 119,671 | 77,496 | 229,352 | 7 |
| 2000s | 248,048 | 208,415 | 309,146 | 9 |
| 2010s | 424,987 | 327,260 | 515,621 | 10 |
| 2020s | 584,614 | 545,049 | 640,925 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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, female in Malawi?
- Enrolment in secondary education, female in Malawi was 594,322 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, female recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 640,925 in 2020.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, female recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 20,420 in 1973.
- How does Malawi rank for enrolment in secondary education, female?
- Malawi ranks 69th out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, female rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.5%. 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release