Government expenditure on education, total in Malawi
Malawi: Government expenditure on education, total was 16.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, total in Malawi, 1986–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education, total in Malawi is 16.0%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Malawi peaked at 21.8% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1986.
Malawi ranks 48th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, total in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1987 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 0.0% | — |
| 1996 | 0.0% | — |
| 1999 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2001 | 0.0% | — |
| 2003 | 16.5% | — |
| 2010 | 12.5% | -24.5% |
| 2011 | 15.0% | +20.8% |
| 2012 | 13.6% | -9.3% |
| 2013 | 20.5% | +50.3% |
| 2014 | 16.6% | -19.0% |
| 2015 | 21.8% | +31.3% |
| 2016 | 17.2% | -21.1% |
| 2017 | 14.3% | -16.6% |
| 2018 | 15.8% | +10.4% |
| 2020 | 20.2% | +27.3% |
| 2021 | 17.6% | -12.9% |
| 2023 | 16.0% | -8.9% |
| 2024 | 16.0% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 |
| 2000s | 5.5% | 0.0% | 16.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 16.4% | 12.5% | 21.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 17.4% | 16.0% | 20.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 45 Panama 16.3% compare
- 46 Guinea-Bissau 16.2% compare
- 47 Israel 16.1% compare
- 49 Republic of Moldova 16.0% compare
- 50 Puerto Rico 16.0% compare
- 51 El Salvador 15.9% 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 government expenditure on education, total in Malawi?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Malawi was 16.0% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 2015.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1986.
- How does Malawi rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Malawi ranks 48th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on all sectors (including health, education, social services, etc.). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.