Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in Malawi
Malawi: Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes was 556,474 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in Malawi, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in Malawi is 556,474, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.0% on the previous year and up 104.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 649,367 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 81,314, in 1999.
Malawi ranks 22nd of 184 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 81,314 | — |
| 2002 | 132,448 | +62.9% |
| 2004 | 233,534 | +76.3% |
| 2005 | 369,584 | +58.3% |
| 2006 | 344,483 | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 261,447 | -24.1% |
| 2008 | 213,168 | -18.5% |
| 2009 | 252,040 | +18.2% |
| 2010 | 294,993 | +17.0% |
| 2011 | 280,349 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 299,638 | +6.9% |
| 2013 | 293,655 | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 272,041 | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 275,092 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 284,687 | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 308,125 | +8.2% |
| 2018 | 387,763 | +25.8% |
| 2019 | 435,242 | +12.2% |
| 2020 | 362,113 | -16.8% |
| 2021 | 649,367 | +79.3% |
| 2022 | 644,096 | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 625,590 | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 556,474 | -11.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 556,474 is below the median for low income countries, which is 644,653, 86% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 556,474 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 193,801, 2.9× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 81,314 | 81,314 | 81,314 | 1 |
| 2000s | 258,101 | 132,448 | 369,584 | 7 |
| 2010s | 313,158 | 272,041 | 435,242 | 10 |
| 2020s | 567,528 | 362,113 | 649,367 | 5 |
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 out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in Malawi?
- Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes in Malawi was 556,474 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 649,367 in 2021.
- What is the lowest out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 81,314 in 1999.
- How does Malawi rank for out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 22nd out of 184 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 104.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release