Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi
Malawi: Expected years of schooling, males vs. females was 9.78 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi stood at 9.78 years.
The figure is down 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi peaked at 12.02 years in 1999 and was at its lowest, 5.96 years, in 1990.
That places Malawi 173rd out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.96 years | — |
| 1991 | 6 years | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 6.46 years | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 6.92 years | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 7.21 years | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 11.25 years | +56.1% |
| 1996 | 11.29 years | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 11.53 years | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 11.77 years | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 12.02 years | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 11.33 years | -5.7% |
| 2001 | 11.6 years | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 11.86 years | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 11.39 years | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 10.92 years | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 10.81 years | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 10.86 years | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 10.73 years | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 10.84 years | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 10.96 years | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 11.08 years | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 11.08 years | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 10.95 years | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 10.82 years | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 10.69 years | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 10.56 years | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 10.43 years | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 10.3 years | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 10.16 years | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 10.04 years | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 9.91 years | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 9.78 years | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 9.78 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 9.78 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.04 years | 5.96 years | 12.02 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.13 years | 10.73 years | 11.86 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.61 years | 10.04 years | 11.08 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.81 years | 9.78 years | 9.91 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 5.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 87,834 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 594,322 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 6.48 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 566,616 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 5.16 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 94,991 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 16.86 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi?
- Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Malawi was 9.78 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 12.02 years in 1999.
- What is the lowest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.96 years in 1990.
- How does Malawi rank for expected years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Malawi ranks 173rd out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expected years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Expected years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of years a boy of school-entrance-age can expect to receive if the current age-specific enrollment rates persist throughout the child's life.