Literacy rate, youth male in Malawi
Malawi: Literacy rate, youth male was 81.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, youth male in Malawi, 1987–2020
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of males ages 15-24.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, youth male in Malawi is 81.3%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 7.9% on the previous year and down 6.0% over five years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth male in Malawi peaked at 88.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 70.4%, in 1987.
Malawi ranks 83rd of 95 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, youth male in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of males ages 15-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 70.4% | — |
| 1998 | 82.1% | +16.5% |
| 2017 | 86.5% | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 88.2% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 81.3% | -7.9% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 81.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 79.8%, 1.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 81.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 87.5%, 93% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 70.4% | 70.4% | 70.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 82.1% | 82.1% | 82.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 87.4% | 86.5% | 88.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 81.3% | 81.3% | 81.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 80 Afghanistan 83.4% compare
- 81 Côte d'Ivoire 82.1% compare
- 82 Nigeria 81.3% compare
- 84 Pakistan 79.5% compare
- 85 Zambia 79.3% compare
- 86 Mozambique 78.4% 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 literacy rate, youth male in Malawi?
- Literacy rate, youth male in Malawi was 81.3% in 2020, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, youth male recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 88.2% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, youth male recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.4% in 1987.
- How does Malawi rank for literacy rate, youth male?
- Malawi ranks 83rd out of 95 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, youth male (% of males 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.