Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Malawi
Malawi: Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age was 18.1% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Malawi, 2002–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Malawi is 18.1%, measured in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 35.6% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Malawi peaked at 34.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 13.4%, in 2018.
Malawi ranks 29th of 134 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 20.8% | — |
| 2004 | 25.9% | +24.4% |
| 2005 | 34.1% | +31.4% |
| 2006 | 30.3% | -11.2% |
| 2007 | 23.6% | -22.2% |
| 2008 | 19.5% | -17.2% |
| 2009 | 21.2% | +8.7% |
| 2013 | 18.9% | -11.0% |
| 2014 | 19.7% | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 19.9% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 21.4% | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 13.4% | -37.5% |
| 2019 | 18.1% | +35.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 18.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 45.5%, 40% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 18.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.6%, 68% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 25.1% | 19.5% | 34.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 18.6% | 13.4% | 21.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 26 Mauritania 25.5% compare
- 27 Myanmar 19.8% compare
- 28 Cayman Islands 18.2% compare
- 30 Turks and Caicos Islands 17.2% compare
- 31 El Salvador 17.2% compare
- 32 Jamaica 17.0% 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 out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Malawi?
- Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age in Malawi was 18.1% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 34.1% in 2005.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.4% in 2018.
- How does Malawi rank for out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age?
- Malawi ranks 29th out of 134 countries with data for 2019.
- Is out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for adolescents of lower secondary school age, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of females of official lower secondary school age who are not enrolled in lower secondary school expressed as a percentage of the female population of official lower secondary school age.