Children out of school, female in India
India: Children out of school, female was 1.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school, female in India, 1971–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of female primary school age.
Analysis
India recorded 1.6% for children out of school, female in 2023.
That represents a change of down 18.4% on the previous year and up 41.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school, female in India peaked at 52.3% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2008.
That places India 142nd out of 177 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Children out of school, female in India, year by year
| Year | % of female primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 52.3% | — |
| 1990 | 34.9% | -33.1% |
| 2000 | 20.1% | -42.5% |
| 2001 | 20.8% | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 20.5% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 10.6% | -48.1% |
| 2008 | 0.0% | -99.7% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | +3251.2% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | -38.4% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | +334.1% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -52.3% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | +157.2% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | +72.5% |
| 2018 | 5.6% | +11.3% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | +19.3% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | -48.2% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | -43.2% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | -18.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 1.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.6%, 17% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's 1.6% is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.1%, 77% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Children out of school, female in India changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +3251.2% | 0.0% | 0.9% |
| 2011 | +334.1% | 0.6% | 2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 52.3% | 52.3% | 52.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 34.9% | 34.9% | 34.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 12.2% | 0.0% | 20.8% | 6 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 0.6% | 6.7% | 7 |
| 2020s | 2.4% | 1.6% | 3.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near India
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 children out of school, female in India?
- Children out of school, female in India was 1.6% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school, female recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 52.3% in 1971.
- What is the lowest children out of school, female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2008.
- How does India rank for children out of school, female?
- India ranks 142nd out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is children out of school, female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Children out of school, female (% of female primary school age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Children out of school are the percentage of primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in primary or secondary school. Children in the official primary age group that are in preprimary education should be considered out of school.