Average years of schooling in Malawi
Malawi: Average years of schooling was 4.49 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
4.49 years
World rank
146th
of 162 countries
All-time high
4.77 years
in 2010
All-time low
0.4 years
in 1870
Years of data
24
1870–2020
Average years of schooling in Malawi, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2020, average years of schooling in Malawi stood at 4.49 years.
The figure is down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Malawi peaked at 4.77 years in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.4 years, in 1870.
Malawi ranks 146th of 162 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Malawi, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.4 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.4 years | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.4 years | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.4 years | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.4 years | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.4 years | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.4 years | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.4035 years | +0.9% |
| 1938 | 0.4 years | -0.9% |
| 1950 | 0.4 years | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.6481 years | +62.0% |
| 1960 | 0.89 years | +37.3% |
| 1965 | 0.9234 years | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 1.14 years | +23.5% |
| 1975 | 1.56 years | +36.4% |
| 1980 | 2.13 years | +36.9% |
| 1985 | 2.63 years | +23.5% |
| 1990 | 3.07 years | +16.8% |
| 1995 | 3.4 years | +10.7% |
| 2000 | 4.01 years | +18.1% |
| 2005 | 4.67 years | +16.4% |
| 2010 | 4.77 years | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 4.4 years | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 4.49 years | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 0.4 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.4018 years | 0.4 years | 0.4035 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 0.5241 years | 0.4 years | 0.6481 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.9067 years | 0.89 years | 0.9234 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.35 years | 1.14 years | 1.56 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 2.38 years | 2.13 years | 2.63 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.23 years | 3.07 years | 3.4 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.34 years | 4.01 years | 4.67 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 4.59 years | 4.4 years | 4.77 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 4.49 years | 4.49 years | 4.49 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More education data for Malawi
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.2193 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.40 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Malawi?
- Average years of schooling in Malawi was 4.49 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 4.77 years in 2010.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4 years in 1870.
- How does Malawi rank for average years of schooling?
- Malawi ranks 146th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.