Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number) in Malawi
Malawi: Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number) was 1.25 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in Malawi, 1974–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in Malawi is 1.25 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 7.3% on the previous year and up 56.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 1.25 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 80,220, in 1974.
That places Malawi 4th out of 205 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 80,220 | — |
| 1975 | 87,159 | +8.6% |
| 1976 | 86,890 | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 96,196 | +10.7% |
| 1978 | 84,241 | -12.4% |
| 1979 | 88,169 | +4.7% |
| 1980 | 102,265 | +16.0% |
| 1981 | 103,605 | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 93,908 | -9.4% |
| 1983 | 83,788 | -10.8% |
| 1984 | 93,457 | +11.5% |
| 1985 | 99,944 | +6.9% |
| 1986 | 122,099 | +22.2% |
| 1987 | 153,282 | +25.5% |
| 1988 | 167,024 | +9.0% |
| 1989 | 188,605 | +12.9% |
| 1990 | 210,138 | +11.4% |
| 1991 | 209,879 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 202,869 | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 282,150 | +39.1% |
| 1994 | 285,648 | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 464,418 | +62.6% |
| 1996 | 396,505 | -14.6% |
| 1998 | 368,828 | -7.0% |
| 1999 | 372,225 | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 413,749 | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 468,493 | +13.2% |
| 2002 | 443,322 | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 511,245 | +15.3% |
| 2005 | 578,121 | +13.1% |
| 2006 | 609,315 | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 608,624 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 641,942 | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 608,589 | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 656,633 | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 699,197 | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 725,689 | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 746,174 | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 800,083 | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 1.05 million | +31.3% |
| 2021 | 93,784 | -91.1% |
| 2023 | 1.16 million | +1140.5% |
| 2024 | 1.25 million | +7.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1.25 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 253,857, 4.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1.25 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 105,251, 11.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +1140.5% | 93,784 | 1.16 million |
| 2021 | -91.1% | 1.05 million | 93,784 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 87,146 | 80,220 | 96,196 | 6 |
| 1980s | 120,798 | 83,788 | 188,605 | 10 |
| 1990s | 310,296 | 202,869 | 464,418 | 9 |
| 2000s | 542,600 | 413,749 | 641,942 | 9 |
| 2010s | 779,704 | 656,633 | 1.05 million | 6 |
| 2020s | 834,991 | 93,784 | 1.25 million | 3 |
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 repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in Malawi?
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in Malawi was 1.25 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 1.25 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 80,220 in 1974.
- How does Malawi rank for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 4th out of 205 countries with data for 2024.
- Is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release