Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi
Malawi: Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions was 97.9% in 2017. ▬ Flat
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi, 2006–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi is 97.9%, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi peaked at 99.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 97.9%, in 2017.
Malawi ranks 30th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 98.9% | — |
| 2012 | 99.1% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 98.8% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 98.7% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 98.8% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 98.3% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 97.9% | -0.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 97.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 89.4%, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 97.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.0%, 1.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 98.9% | 98.9% | 98.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 98.6% | 97.9% | 99.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 27 Algeria 98.2% compare
- 28 Finland 98.2% compare
- 29 Mozambique 98.0% compare
- 31 Cape Verde 97.8% compare
- 32 Bosnia and Herzegovina 97.8% compare
- 33 Romania 97.8% 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 percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi?
- Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi was 97.9% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 99.1% in 2012.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.9% in 2017.
- How does Malawi rank for percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions?
- Malawi ranks 30th out of 201 countries with data for 2017.
- Is percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release