Adult literacy rate in Malawi
70.2% of adults in Malawi could read and write in 2020.
The latest value for Malawi is for 2020. Most countries have figures for 2022.
Malawi, 2020
70.2%
Change from 2018
−6.6percentage points
World, 2020
87.0%
Adult literacy rate in Malawi over time
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Malawi
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of people aged 15 and above. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | Malawi | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | – | 87.2% |
| 2020 | 70.2% | 87.0% |
| 2019 | – | 86.8% |
| 2018 | 76.7% | 86.8% |
| 2017 | 72.8% | 86.5% |
| 2016 | – | 86.3% |
| 2015 | – | 86.0% |
| 2014 | – | 85.6% |
| 2013 | – | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | – | 84.7% |
| 2010 | – | 84.4% |
| 2009 | – | 83.8% |
| 2008 | – | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | – | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | – | 82.6% |
| 2003 | – | 82.2% |
| 2002 | – | 81.7% |
| 2001 | – | 81.4% |
| 2000 | – | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- The previous available figure was 76.7% in 2018, a change of −6.6 percentage points.
- Since 1987, when it was 48.5%, the figure has changed by +21.6 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2020 was 87.0%.
More for Malawi
All statistics for Malawi
Primary school enrolment (gross)
139.0%
2024 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
21.8%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
49.3%
2020 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
23.1%
2020 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
15.5%
2020 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
2.1%
2022 · UNESCO UIS