Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malawi

Malawi: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 59.1% in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)
59.1%
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
72nd
of 83 countries
All-time high
62.5%
in 2014
All-time low
45.7%
in 1987
Years of data
5
1987–2015

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malawi, 1987–2015

02040601987200120151987: 45.7 %1998: 59.9 %2010: 58.3 %2014: 62.5 %2015: 59.1 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Malawi recorded 59.1% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2015.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.4% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malawi peaked at 62.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 45.7%, in 1987.

Malawi ranks 72nd of 83 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 45.7% 45.7% 45.7% 1
1990s 59.9% 59.9% 59.9% 1
2010s 60.0% 58.3% 62.5% 3

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 69 Egypt, Arab Republic of 67.5% compare
  2. 70 Burundi 60.8% compare
  3. 71 Nepal 60.7% compare
  4. 73 Togo 59.0% compare
  5. 74 Nigeria 57.4% compare
  6. 75 Mozambique, Republic of 57.2% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malawi?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malawi was 59.1% in 2015, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 62.5% in 2014.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 45.7% in 1987.
How does Malawi rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Malawi ranks 72nd out of 83 countries with data for 2015.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. 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 Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 19 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.