Literacy rate, adult male in Malawi
Malawi: Literacy rate, adult male was 78.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult male in Malawi, 1987–2020
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of males ages 15 and above.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, adult male in Malawi is 78.6%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 2.8% over five years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult male in Malawi peaked at 82.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 65.3%, in 1987.
Malawi ranks 71st of 88 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, adult male in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of males ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 65.3% | — |
| 1998 | 74.9% | +14.8% |
| 2017 | 80.9% | +7.9% |
| 2018 | 82.9% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 78.6% | -5.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 78.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 71.0%, 1.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 78.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 79.2%, 99% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 65.3% | 65.3% | 65.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 74.9% | 74.9% | 74.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 81.9% | 80.9% | 82.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 78.6% | 78.6% | 78.6% | 1 |
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 literacy rate, adult male in Malawi?
- Literacy rate, adult male in Malawi was 78.6% in 2020, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 82.9% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.3% in 1987.
- How does Malawi rank for literacy rate, adult male?
- Malawi ranks 71st out of 88 countries with data for 2020.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.