Literacy rates among adults in Malawi
Malawi: Literacy rates among adults was 70.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
70.2%
Change on year
down 8.6%
World rank
72nd
of 89 countries
All-time high
76.7%
in 2018
All-time low
48.5%
in 1987
Years of data
5
1987–2020
Literacy rates among adults in Malawi, 1987–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 70.2% for literacy rates among adults in 2020.
The figure is down 8.6% on the previous year and down 3.7% over five years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Malawi peaked at 76.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 48.5%, in 1987.
That places Malawi 72nd out of 89 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates among adults in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 48.5% | — |
| 1998 | 64.1% | +32.1% |
| 2017 | 72.8% | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 76.7% | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 70.2% | -8.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 70.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 60.5%, 1.2× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 70.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.9%, 99% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 48.5% | 48.5% | 48.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 64.1% | 64.1% | 64.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 74.8% | 72.8% | 76.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 70.2% | 70.2% | 70.2% | 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 rates among adults in Malawi?
- Literacy rates among adults in Malawi was 70.2% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates among adults recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 76.7% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.5% in 1987.
- How does Malawi rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Malawi ranks 72nd out of 89 countries with data for 2020.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.