Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in India
India: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 12.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in India, 1994–2021
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in India is 12.4%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in India peaked at 12.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 1994.
India ranks 99th of 129 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in India, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 4.5% | — |
| 2000 | 5.8% | +27.6% |
| 2005 | 6.4% | +10.3% |
| 2010 | 8.0% | +25.9% |
| 2011 | 9.9% | +23.3% |
| 2012 | 8.9% | -9.9% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | +33.1% |
| 2021 | 12.4% | +4.2% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 12.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.7%, 1.3× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.1% | 5.8% | 6.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.7% | 8.0% | 11.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 12.4% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.38 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.88 (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in India?
- Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in India was 12.4% in 2021, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 1994.
- How does India rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
- India ranks 99th out of 129 countries with data for 2021.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.