Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi
Malawi: Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions was 49.5% in 2017. ▬ Flat
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi, 1997–2017
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 49.5%, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi peaked at 50.3% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 49.5%, in 2017.
That places Malawi 188th out of 200 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 50.3% | — |
| 2006 | 49.5% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 49.6% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 49.7% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 49.7% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 50.3% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 49.6% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 49.5% | -0.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 49.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 51.5%, 96% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 49.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 51.5%, 96% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.3% | 50.3% | 50.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 49.5% | 49.5% | 49.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 49.7% | 49.5% | 50.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 185 Tanzania, United Republic of 49.6% compare
- 186 Burkina Faso 49.6% compare
- 187 Sweden 49.5% compare
- 189 Bangladesh 49.3% compare
- 190 Sierra Leone 49.2% compare
- 191 India 49.2% 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 percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi?
- Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in Malawi was 49.5% 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 50.3% in 2015.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.5% in 2017.
- How does Malawi rank for percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions?
- Malawi ranks 188th out of 200 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 0.1%. 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release