Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male in India
India: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male was 94.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male in India, 1981–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male in India stood at 94.2%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male in India peaked at 94.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 76.4%, in 1981.
India ranks 35th of 57 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 76.4% | — |
| 2001 | 85.9% | +12.5% |
| 2011 | 88.4% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 91.9% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 94.2% | +2.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 94.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 91.0%, 1.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 76.4% | 76.4% | 76.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 85.9% | 85.9% | 85.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 88.4% | 88.4% | 88.4% | 1 |
| 2020s | 93.0% | 91.9% | 94.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
- 32 Tunisia 95.2% compare
- 33 Dominican Republic 95.1% compare
- 34 El Salvador 94.8% compare
- 36 South Africa 94.2% compare
- 37 Togo 94.1% compare
- 38 Tanzania, United Republic of 93.8% compare
More education data for India
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.31 million (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 3.10 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 19.37 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18.52 million (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 133.16 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 126.12 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -8.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0862 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male in India?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male in India was 94.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 94.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.4% in 1981.
- How does India rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male?
- India ranks 35th out of 57 countries with data for 2023.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release