Malawi
Last updated May 3, 2026
Composite GEFRI Score
Critically unprepared
Malawi shows critically low readiness to meet the challenges and opportunities of education in a rapidly changing world (9th percentile worldwide). Core capabilities are weak across most dimensions, and essential systems face significant constraints. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.
- Global percentile
- 9th
- Global rank
- #163
- Regional rank
- #34
- Viewing data for
Country profile
Malawi trails global peers in Innovation (27, 9th percentile), Human Capital (25, 10th percentile), GEFRI Composite (23, 9th percentile), and Infrastructure (16, 4th percentile). A coordinated reform effort is needed to strengthen education futures readiness.
All or most indicators are based on observed data, giving planners a dependable evidence base for decisions. Uneven scores across dimensions highlight areas that need targeted coordination. Limited electricity or internet coverage still constrains classrooms, preventing large-scale digital instruction. Literacy or tertiary enrollment gaps thin the talent pipeline and limit the country’s capacity to develop future-ready skills.
Sparse R&D investment and a small research workforce slow experimentation and delay new ideas from reaching learners. Policy execution and regulatory capacity remain weak, leaving reforms fragmented and hard to sustain. Gender parity leans toward boys in secondary pathways, signalling persistent barriers for girls.
Regionally, Infrastructure lags peers the most, signalling where investment could have the highest impact.
Key insights
- Falls below many peers at the 9th percentile.
- Places 163rd worldwide.
- Holds a regional position of 34th within Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Scores range from Governance (39.1) to Access & Parity (10.0), reflecting variation across dimensions.
- Trails regional peers most clearly in Infrastructure.
Regional peers: Sub-Saharan Africa
Composite GEFRI Score