Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Malawi
Malawi: Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes was 54.1% in 2013. ▲ Rising
Latest (2013)
54.1%
Change on year
down 13.2%
World rank
166th
of 180 countries
All-time high
62.3%
in 2012
All-time low
27.3%
in 1982
Years of data
36
1973–2013
Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Malawi, 1973–2013
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Malawi is 54.1%, measured in 2013.
The figure is down 13.2% on the previous year and up 59.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 62.3% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 27.3%, in 1982.
That places Malawi 166th out of 180 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 37.4% | — |
| 1974 | 43.9% | +17.6% |
| 1975 | 31.1% | -29.1% |
| 1976 | 32.2% | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 30.0% | -6.7% |
| 1978 | 31.6% | +5.4% |
| 1979 | 39.9% | +26.0% |
| 1980 | 33.2% | -16.7% |
| 1981 | 39.8% | +19.8% |
| 1982 | 27.3% | -31.3% |
| 1983 | 30.7% | +12.4% |
| 1984 | 41.3% | +34.5% |
| 1985 | 40.6% | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 54.1% | +33.1% |
| 1987 | 38.4% | -29.1% |
| 1988 | 52.3% | +36.2% |
| 1989 | 46.2% | -11.6% |
| 1990 | 39.4% | -14.7% |
| 1991 | 53.4% | +35.6% |
| 1992 | 34.8% | -34.9% |
| 1993 | 29.8% | -14.3% |
| 1995 | 28.4% | -4.9% |
| 1998 | 37.7% | +32.6% |
| 1999 | 36.3% | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 37.2% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 32.8% | -11.7% |
| 2004 | 33.8% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 36.1% | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 35.9% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 59.9% | +66.6% |
| 2008 | 41.9% | -29.9% |
| 2009 | 52.8% | +25.9% |
| 2010 | 50.9% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 49.1% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 62.3% | +26.9% |
| 2013 | 54.1% | -13.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 54.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 52.3%, 1.0× the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 54.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 65.9%, 82% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35.2% | 30.0% | 43.9% | 7 |
| 1980s | 40.4% | 27.3% | 54.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.1% | 28.4% | 53.4% | 7 |
| 2000s | 41.3% | 32.8% | 59.9% | 8 |
| 2010s | 54.1% | 49.1% | 62.3% | 4 |
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 survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Malawi?
- Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Malawi was 54.1% in 2013, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 62.3% in 2012.
- What is the lowest survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.3% in 1982.
- How does Malawi rank for survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes?
- Malawi ranks 166th out of 180 countries with data for 2013.
- Is survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.8%. 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 Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release