Primary education, pupils in Malawi
Malawi: Primary education, pupils was 4.75 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary education, pupils in Malawi, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2024, primary education, pupils in Malawi stood at 4.75 million. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Malawi peaked at 4.75 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 314,629, in 1971.
Malawi ranks 35th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary education, pupils in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 314,629 | — |
| 1972 | 378,812 | +20.4% |
| 1973 | 424,983 | +12.2% |
| 1974 | 482,304 | +13.5% |
| 1975 | 546,085 | +13.2% |
| 1976 | 571,389 | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 583,039 | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 586,759 | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 611,983 | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 667,222 | +9.0% |
| 1981 | 691,245 | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 754,588 | +9.2% |
| 1983 | 736,816 | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 707,699 | -4.0% |
| 1985 | 757,334 | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 794,782 | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 862,834 | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 901,327 | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 1.03 million | +14.8% |
| 1990 | 1.14 million | +10.7% |
| 1991 | 1.21 million | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 1.48 million | +21.8% |
| 1993 | 1.59 million | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 1.73 million | +8.6% |
| 1995 | 2.59 million | +50.0% |
| 1996 | 2.60 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 2.53 million | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 2.58 million | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 2.69 million | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 2.85 million | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 2.85 million | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2.84 million | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 2.87 million | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 2.93 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 2.94 million | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 3.20 million | +8.7% |
| 2009 | 3.25 million | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 3.42 million | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 3.55 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 3.69 million | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 3.95 million | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 4.10 million | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 4.20 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 4.28 million | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 4.43 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 4.53 million | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 4.59 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 4.56 million | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 4.28 million | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 4.29 million | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 4.62 million | +7.8% |
| 2024 | 4.75 million | +2.7% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 4.75 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.01 million, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 4.75 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 2.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary education, pupils in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +50.0% | 1.73 million | 2.59 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 499,998 | 314,629 | 611,983 | 9 |
| 1980s | 790,819 | 667,222 | 1.03 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.94 million | 1.14 million | 2.60 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.94 million | 2.69 million | 3.25 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 4.08 million | 3.42 million | 4.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.50 million | 4.28 million | 4.75 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 primary education, pupils in Malawi?
- Primary education, pupils in Malawi was 4.75 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 4.75 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 314,629 in 1971.
- How does Malawi rank for primary education, pupils?
- Malawi ranks 35th out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.