Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in India
India: Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population was 74.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in India, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in India stood at 74.2%. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.2% on the previous year and up 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in India peaked at 74.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 27.5%, in 1981.
India ranks 119th of 136 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 27.8% | — |
| 1981 | 27.5% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 58.6% | +113.1% |
| 2016 | 65.3% | +11.4% |
| 2018 | 66.4% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 69.1% | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 68.0% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 69.8% | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 74.2% | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 27.8% | 27.8% | 27.8% | 1 |
| 1980s | 27.5% | 27.5% | 27.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 64.9% | 58.6% | 69.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 70.7% | 68.0% | 74.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 60.33 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -8.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0412 units per person (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 65.78 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -9.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0449 units per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in India?
- Educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in India was 74.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 74.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.5% in 1981.
- How does India rank for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population?
- India ranks 119th out of 136 countries with data for 2023.
- Is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release