Children out of school in India
India: Children out of school was 0.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Children out of school in India, 1971–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.
Analysis
The most recent figure for children out of school in India is 0.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.9% on the previous year and down 97.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children out of school in India peaked at 39.1% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2024.
That places India 187th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, 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 in India, year by year
| Year | % of primary school age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 39.1% | — |
| 1990 | 23.4% | -40.1% |
| 2000 | 12.1% | -48.2% |
| 2001 | 13.7% | +13.3% |
| 2002 | 14.0% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 9.0% | -35.9% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | -90.1% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | -53.0% |
| 2009 | 1.8% | +331.1% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | -37.4% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | +141.0% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | -74.6% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -37.9% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | +852.2% |
| 2017 | 6.0% | +46.8% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 7.4% | +15.6% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | -45.0% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -43.0% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | -93.4% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | +861.8% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -92.9% |
| 2025 | 0.1% | +13.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 39.1% | 39.1% | 39.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 23.4% | 23.4% | 23.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 0.4% | 14.0% | 7 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | 0.4% | 7.4% | 8 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 0.1% | 4.1% | 6 |
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 in India?
- Children out of school in India was 0.1% in 2025, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest children out of school recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 39.1% in 1971.
- What is the lowest children out of school recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2024.
- How does India rank for children out of school?
- India ranks 187th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is children out of school rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 97.1%. 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 (% of 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.