Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Malawi
Malawi: Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women was 64.7% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Malawi, 1984–2020
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of women ages 15-49.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 64.7% for modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in 2020. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
The figure is up 53.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Malawi peaked at 64.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 1984.
Malawi ranks 22nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 3.2% | — |
| 1992 | 7.4% | +131.2% |
| 1996 | 14.4% | +94.6% |
| 2000 | 26.1% | +81.2% |
| 2004 | 28.1% | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 38.6% | +37.5% |
| 2010 | 42.2% | +9.2% |
| 2014 | 57.4% | +35.9% |
| 2016 | 58.1% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 64.7% | +11.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 10.9% | 7.4% | 14.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 30.9% | 26.1% | 38.6% | 3 |
| 2010s | 52.6% | 42.2% | 58.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 64.7% | 64.7% | 64.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.2193 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.40 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Malawi?
- Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Malawi was 64.7% in 2020, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 64.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 1984.
- How does Malawi rank for modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women?
- Malawi ranks 22nd out of 113 countries with data for 2020.
- Is modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of married or co-habiting women who use at least one modern method of contraception vs. the average years of formal education that women between 15-64 years have attended.