Average years of schooling, males vs. females in India
India: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 7.96 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in India, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
India recorded 7.96 years for average years of schooling, males vs. females in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in India peaked at 7.96 years in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.62 years, in 1990.
That places India 134th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in India, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.62 years | — |
| 1991 | 3.78 years | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 3.94 years | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 4.1 years | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 4.26 years | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 4.42 years | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 4.64 years | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 4.85 years | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 5.06 years | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 5.27 years | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 5.49 years | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 5.57 years | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 5.65 years | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 5.73 years | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 5.81 years | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 5.9 years | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 5.99 years | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 6.08 years | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 6.17 years | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 6.26 years | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 6.35 years | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 6.53 years | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 6.66 years | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 6.78 years | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 6.91 years | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 7.03 years | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 7.16 years | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 7.29 years | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 7.42 years | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 7.6 years | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 7.64 years | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 7.63 years | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 7.63 years | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 7.96 years | +4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.4 years | 3.62 years | 5.27 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.86 years | 5.49 years | 6.26 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.97 years | 6.35 years | 7.6 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.72 years | 7.63 years | 7.96 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 133.16 million (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.19 million (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 64.76 million (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 68.40 million (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.3178 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37.89 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.2585 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in India?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in India was 7.96 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 7.96 years in 2023.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.62 years in 1990.
- How does India rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- India ranks 134th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) men over 25 years participated in formal education.