Share of the population with lower secondary education in Malawi
Malawi: Share of the population with lower secondary education was 18.8% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Malawi, 1977–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population with lower secondary education in Malawi is 18.8%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.7% on the previous year and down 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with lower secondary education in Malawi peaked at 22.8% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1977.
Malawi ranks 124th of 135 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 2.7% | — |
| 1987 | 5.2% | +94.6% |
| 1998 | 8.6% | +64.6% |
| 2005 | 14.2% | +66.1% |
| 2011 | 19.3% | +35.6% |
| 2015 | 19.7% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 22.8% | +16.2% |
| 2020 | 18.8% | -17.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 14.2% | 14.2% | 14.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 20.6% | 19.3% | 22.8% | 3 |
| 2020s | 18.8% | 18.8% | 18.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 566,616 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 5.16 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 94,991 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 16.86 % change on previous year (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 41,351 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 46,483 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 40,807 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 21.25 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 54,184 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 13.94 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with lower secondary education in Malawi?
- Share of the population with lower secondary education in Malawi was 18.8% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 22.8% in 2017.
- What is the lowest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1977.
- How does Malawi rank for share of the population with lower secondary education?
- Malawi ranks 124th out of 135 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with lower secondary education rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults aged 25 and older who have completed lower secondary education or higher.