Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in Malawi
Malawi: Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes was 35.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in Malawi, 1973–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in Malawi stood at 35.9%. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
The figure is up 1,031.0% on the previous year and up 42.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 35.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2020.
Malawi ranks 3rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 22.3% | — |
| 1974 | 21.4% | -4.1% |
| 1975 | 19.3% | -9.6% |
| 1976 | 19.4% | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 17.1% | -12.0% |
| 1978 | 19.1% | +11.9% |
| 1979 | 21.3% | +11.4% |
| 1980 | 19.2% | -9.8% |
| 1981 | 16.9% | -11.9% |
| 1982 | 13.1% | -22.5% |
| 1983 | 15.3% | +17.0% |
| 1984 | 19.4% | +26.8% |
| 1985 | 20.5% | +5.4% |
| 1986 | 25.1% | +22.5% |
| 1987 | 23.4% | -6.9% |
| 1988 | 25.3% | +8.1% |
| 1989 | 23.5% | -7.0% |
| 1990 | 21.0% | -10.7% |
| 1991 | 23.2% | +10.4% |
| 1992 | 20.9% | -9.9% |
| 1993 | 21.4% | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 28.3% | +32.0% |
| 1995 | 18.7% | -33.8% |
| 1998 | 17.5% | -6.8% |
| 1999 | 19.2% | +9.9% |
| 2000 | 19.5% | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 17.5% | -10.6% |
| 2004 | 24.7% | +41.5% |
| 2005 | 25.7% | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 23.4% | -8.9% |
| 2007 | 25.4% | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 22.9% | -9.8% |
| 2009 | 23.6% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 24.3% | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 23.2% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 24.6% | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 25.2% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 30.5% | +21.2% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | -89.6% |
| 2023 | 35.9% | +1030.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 20.0% | 17.1% | 22.3% | 7 |
| 1980s | 20.2% | 13.1% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.3% | 17.5% | 28.3% | 8 |
| 2000s | 22.8% | 17.5% | 25.7% | 8 |
| 2010s | 25.6% | 23.2% | 30.5% | 5 |
| 2020s | 19.5% | 3.2% | 35.9% | 2 |
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 repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in Malawi?
- Repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in Malawi was 35.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 35.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2020.
- How does Malawi rank for repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 3rd out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release