Photo: Rockwurm derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Malawi: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Malawi is placed 141st of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 2.089 (2024); Upper Secondary Completion Rate 18.13 (2025).
Share
Education & Knowledge
141st
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
- 2.089Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- —Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024No reading for this country
- 18.13Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- —Government Spending on Education, 2023No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Malawi on education & knowledge — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Malawi’s is from 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0
2.089
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Malawi: 2.089. Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.785 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Mozambique 1 · Tanzania 16.37 · Zambia 3.515
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no reading from 2014–2024 for Malawi, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.
- World median
- 85.9
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 92.12 Kenya
- Land neighbours
- Tanzania 67.97 · Zambia 46.61
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
18.13
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Malawi: 18.13. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.
- World median
- 64.87
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 55.96 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Mozambique 8.65 · Tanzania 8.67 · Zambia 28.03
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no 2023 figure for Malawi, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.
- World median
- 3.709
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 4.92 Rwanda
- Land neighbours
- Tanzania 3.259 · Zambia 4.074
02Over time
Which way Malawi is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
MalawiWorld median
Malawi rose from 0.839 in 2004 to 2.089 in 2022; the world median went from 3.791 to 3.002.
Every year’s figures
Year Malawi World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 — 3.393 2022 2.09 3.002 2021 2.24 3.330 2020 — 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 — 2.907 2016 — 2.954 2015 — 3.052 2014 — 3.904 2013 — 3.413 2012 — 3.408 2011 — 3.626 2010 — 3.491 2009 0.96 3.577 2008 1.30 3.878 2007 3.29 4.029 2006 1.27 4.338 2005 0.76 4.571 2004 0.84 3.791 2003 — 4.412 2002 — 4.144 2001 — 4.051 2000 — 8.642 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
MalawiWorld median
Malawi rose from 9.27 in 2000 to 18.13 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Malawi World median 2025 18.13 64.9 2024 17.59 65.0 2023 17.09 64.2 2022 16.68 63.6 2021 16.27 62.9 2020 15.85 62.2 2019 15.37 61.5 2018 14.82 60.9 2017 14.21 60.5 2016 13.75 60.1 2015 13.37 58.9 2014 13.16 57.0 2013 13.09 54.7 2012 12.97 52.4 2011 12.80 50.9 2010 12.43 49.5 2009 12.07 48.5 2008 11.55 47.4 2007 11.06 46.2 2006 10.50 45.0 2005 10.08 43.8 2004 9.73 42.9 2003 9.56 41.6 2002 9.45 40.3 2001 9.42 39.0 2000 9.27 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
MalawiWorld median
Malawi fell from 3.606 in 2000 to 2.749 in 2022; the world median went from 3.886 to 4.057.
Every year’s figures
Year Malawi World median 2023 — 3.7092 2022 2.75 4.0570 2021 — 4.2611 2020 — 4.4056 2019 — 4.1407 2018 3.32 4.2159 2017 2.77 4.1401 2016 3.28 4.2342 2015 3.85 4.2386 2014 3.33 4.2005 2013 3.72 4.3493 2012 2.53 4.0348 2011 2.85 3.9987 2010 2.43 4.1396 2009 — 4.6638 2008 — 4.4226 2007 — 4.1717 2006 — 4.0593 2005 — 4.0557 2004 — 3.9745 2003 2.21 4.1595 2002 — 4.0173 2001 3.10 4.1002 2000 3.61 3.8861
03In context
Malawi beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
Malawi and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) | Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mozambique | 139th | 1 | — | 8.65 | — |
| Malawi | 141st | 2.089 | — | 18.13 | — |
 Zambia | =144th | 3.515 | 46.61 | 28.03 | 4.074 |
 Tanzania | 169th | 16.37 | 67.97 | 8.67 | 3.259 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Malawi in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Malawi is ahead of the world, and behind
18 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which Malawi does better than the middle country measured.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.7950.619▲ Improved since 2015
Malawi: 0.795 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.
Position 58th of 176 · derived.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4390.446No earlier reading
Malawi: 0.439 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 82nd of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Qualified Teachers in Primary EducationUIS · 2024 · world median 93.6694.7793.66▲ Improved since 1999
Malawi: 94.77 · world median 93.66 · Primary teachers with the minimum qualifications their country requires (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Malawi does worse than the middle country measured.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9415.5067.941▲ Improved since 2010
Malawi: 5.506 · world median 7.941 · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.207 to 12.81; higher is better.
Position 137th of 172 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9970.1593.99No earlier reading
Malawi: 70.15 · world median 93.99 · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 141st of 172 · derived.
Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · 2024 · world median 6.34325.336.343No real change since 2014
Malawi: 25.33 · world median 6.343 · Out-of-school rate, lower secondary age (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.011 to 79.71; lower is better.
Position 20th of 116 · derived, 1st = worst.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32359.48414.32▲ Improved since 2010
Malawi: 359.48 · world median 414.32 · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 304.92 to 575.27; higher is better.
Position 145th of 172 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2280.7398.22No earlier reading
Malawi: 80.73 · world median 98.22 · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 36.7 to 100; higher is better.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9335.2449.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Malawi: 5.244 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 166th of 193 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0815.360.08No earlier reading
Malawi: 15.3 · world median 60.08 · Pupils at the end of primary reaching minimum proficiency in reading (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 98.78; higher is better.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.349.90313.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Malawi: 9.903 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 173rd of 195 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4357.7197.43▼ Worsened since 2015
Malawi: 57.71 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.
Position 152nd of 165 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2129.7689.21No real change since 2015
Malawi: 29.76 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.
Position 153rd of 164 · derived.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.9525.17701.95No earlier reading
Malawi: 25.17 · world median 701.95 · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.446 to 18,130; higher is better.
Position 137th of 145 · derived.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.0550.529No earlier reading
Malawi: 0.055 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.84.143.8No earlier reading
Malawi: 4.1 · world median 43.8 · Pupils at the end of primary reaching minimum proficiency in mathematics (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.8 to 93.42; higher is better.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2401,2472,240No real change since 2022
Malawi: 1,247 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1731.2938.17No earlier reading
Malawi: 31.29 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
No current reading for Malawi
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2020), Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2022), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2016), Government Spending on Education (last 2022), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2010), Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2022), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2011), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2023), Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching (last 2023), Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary (last 2023), Research and Development Spending (last 2019), School Life Expectancy (last 2021), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2023), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2022), Trust in Scientists (last 2018) and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2020). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Malawi’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Malawi’s 8th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 22nd of 1864/4 keys
- Energy58th of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 72nd of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties88th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 118th of 1944/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 124th of 1844/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 125th of 1834/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge141st of 1982/4 keys
- Digital & Technology146th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 140th of 1824/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital159th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 160th of 1934/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing182nd of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation161st of 1764/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality150th of 1593/3 keys
No standing on Mobility & Trade: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Malawi can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Africa
Tunisia=48th3/4 keysHighest in Eastern Africa
Mauritius=61st4/4 keysThis page
Malawi141st2/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Malawi on education & knowledge: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Malawi rank on education & knowledge?
Malawi is placed 141st of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary and Upper Secondary Completion Rate). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for Malawi?
2.089 in 2024 (out-of-school rate, primary age (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.691.
What is the latest Upper Secondary Completion Rate figure for Malawi?
18.13 in 2025 (upper secondary completion rate (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 64.87.
How does Malawi compare with Tanzania on education & knowledge?
Tanzania is placed 169th of 198, and Malawi 141st. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Tanzania 16.37, Malawi 2.089; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Tanzania 8.67, Malawi 18.13.
How have Malawi’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 0.839 in 2004 to 2.089 in 2022; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 9.27 in 2000 to 18.13 in 2025; Government Spending on Education fell from 3.606 in 2000 to 2.749 in 2022.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Malawi?
No current reading is published for Malawi on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Research and Development Spending, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 18 statistics on this page come from 5 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Malawi’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Malawi (banner) — Rockwurm derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Malawi: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/malawi/education