Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Malawi
Malawi: Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary was 21.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Malawi, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Malawi is 21.0%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 27.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Malawi peaked at 22.3% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 15.2%, in 2014.
That places Malawi 35th out of 171 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 18.6% | — |
| 2002 | 20.9% | +12.2% |
| 2004 | 20.6% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 22.3% | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 21.0% | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 19.7% | -6.2% |
| 2008 | 17.3% | -12.0% |
| 2009 | 17.1% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 16.5% | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 15.2% | -7.6% |
| 2015 | 15.4% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 16.3% | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 17.0% | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 18.0% | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 21.0% | +16.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 21.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 41.5%, 51% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 21.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.5%, 89% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.6% | 18.6% | 18.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 19.8% | 17.1% | 22.3% | 7 |
| 2010s | 16.4% | 15.2% | 18.0% | 6 |
| 2020s | 21.0% | 21.0% | 21.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 32 El Salvador 23.7% compare
- 33 Mozambique 22.4% compare
- 34 Togo 21.4% compare
- 36 Zimbabwe 21.0% compare
- 37 Sierra Leone 19.4% compare
- 38 Romania 19.2% 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 children, adolescents and youth of primary in Malawi?
- Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Malawi was 21.0% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 22.3% in 2005.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.2% in 2014.
- How does Malawi rank for out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary?
- Malawi ranks 35th out of 171 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.4%. 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 children, adolescents and youth of primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school age, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release