Literacy rate, youth female in Malawi
Malawi: Literacy rate, youth female was 80.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, youth female in Malawi, 1987–2020
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of females ages 15-24.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, youth female in Malawi is 80.1%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 8.0% on the previous year and up 11.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth female in Malawi peaked at 87.1% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 49.1%, in 1987.
Malawi ranks 86th of 105 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, youth female in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of females ages 15-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 49.1% | — |
| 1998 | 70.7% | +43.9% |
| 2006 | 72.2% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 75.7% | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 84.5% | +11.5% |
| 2018 | 87.1% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 80.1% | -8.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 80.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 67.9%, 1.2× the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 80.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 80.1%, 1.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 49.1% | 49.1% | 49.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 70.7% | 70.7% | 70.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 72.2% | 72.2% | 72.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 82.4% | 75.7% | 87.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 80.1% | 80.1% | 80.1% | 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, youth female in Malawi?
- Literacy rate, youth female in Malawi was 80.1% in 2020, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, youth female recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 87.1% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, youth female recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.1% in 1987.
- How does Malawi rank for literacy rate, youth female?
- Malawi ranks 86th out of 105 countries with data for 2020.
- Is literacy rate, youth female rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, youth female (% of females ages 15-24). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.