Literacy rate in India
India: Literacy rate was 78.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Literacy rate in India, 1901–2024
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, literacy rate in India stood at 78.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.3% on the previous year and up 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in India peaked at 81.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 1901.
India ranks 92nd of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Literacy rate in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 6.2% | — |
| 1911 | 7.0% | +12.9% |
| 1921 | 8.3% | +18.6% |
| 1931 | 9.1% | +9.6% |
| 1950 | 17.5% | +92.3% |
| 1981 | 40.8% | +132.9% |
| 1991 | 48.2% | +18.3% |
| 2001 | 61.0% | +26.5% |
| 2006 | 62.8% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 68.3% | +8.9% |
| 2011 | 69.3% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 69.8% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 73.7% | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 74.9% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 75.5% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 76.1% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 76.3% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 81.7% | +7.0% |
| 2024 | 78.2% | -4.3% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 78.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- India's 78.2% is below the median for South Asia, which is 78.6%, 99% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Literacy rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +132.9% | 17.5% | 40.8% |
| 1950 | +92.3% | 9.1% | 17.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
| 1910s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 8.3% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 1 |
| 1930s | 9.1% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 1 |
| 1950s | 17.5% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 40.8% | 40.8% | 40.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 48.2% | 48.2% | 48.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 61.9% | 61.0% | 62.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 71.2% | 68.3% | 74.9% | 5 |
| 2020s | 77.6% | 75.5% | 81.7% | 5 |
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 literacy rate in India?
- Literacy rate in India was 78.2% in 2024, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 81.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 1901.
- How does India rank for literacy rate?
- India ranks 92nd out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.