Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Malawi
Malawi: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 94,991 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malawi, 1973–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malawi stood at 94,991. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 67.8% on the previous year and up 610.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 94,991 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1,903, in 1976.
Malawi ranks 119th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 1,918 | — |
| 1974 | 2,007 | +4.6% |
| 1975 | 2,093 | +4.3% |
| 1976 | 1,903 | -9.1% |
| 1977 | 2,014 | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 1,948 | -3.3% |
| 1979 | 2,180 | +11.9% |
| 1980 | 2,528 | +16.0% |
| 1981 | 2,591 | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 2,676 | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 2,705 | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 2,817 | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 2,963 | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 3,057 | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 3,285 | +7.5% |
| 1988 | 3,351 | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 3,674 | +9.6% |
| 1990 | 4,539 | +23.5% |
| 1991 | 4,829 | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 4,947 | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 5,052 | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 5,346 | +5.8% |
| 1995 | 5,358 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 5,561 | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 3,179 | -42.8% |
| 2000 | 3,584 | +12.7% |
| 2001 | 4,129 | +15.2% |
| 2002 | 4,531 | +9.7% |
| 2003 | 4,757 | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 5,782 | +21.5% |
| 2005 | 5,810 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 6,298 | +8.4% |
| 2007 | 6,458 | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 18,386 | +184.7% |
| 2011 | 23,196 | +26.2% |
| 2012 | 12,839 | -44.6% |
| 2014 | 13,368 | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 13,440 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 30,975 | +130.5% |
| 2020 | 46,925 | +51.5% |
| 2021 | 48,454 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 56,624 | +16.9% |
| 2024 | 94,991 | +67.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 94,991 is below the median for low income countries, which is 112,732, 84% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 94,991 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 83,195, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +184.7% | 6,458 | 18,386 |
| 2018 | +130.5% | 13,440 | 30,975 |
| 2024 | +67.8% | 56,624 | 94,991 |
| 2012 | -44.6% | 23,196 | 12,839 |
| 1999 | -42.8% | 5,561 | 3,179 |
| 2020 | +51.5% | 30,975 | 46,925 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,009 | 1,903 | 2,180 | 7 |
| 1980s | 2,965 | 2,528 | 3,674 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,851 | 3,179 | 5,561 | 8 |
| 2000s | 5,169 | 3,584 | 6,458 | 8 |
| 2010s | 18,701 | 12,839 | 30,975 | 6 |
| 2020s | 61,748 | 46,925 | 94,991 | 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malawi?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malawi was 94,991 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 94,991 in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,903 in 1976.
- How does Malawi rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 119th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 610.6%. 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release