Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in India
India: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 46.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in India, 1981–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 46.1% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is down 11.4% on the previous year and up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in India peaked at 52.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 21.4%, in 1981.
India ranks 62nd of 85 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 21.4% | — |
| 1991 | 27.3% | +27.1% |
| 2001 | 35.6% | +30.6% |
| 2006 | 35.2% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 37.8% | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 41.6% | +10.2% |
| 2012 | 38.6% | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 40.8% | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 43.3% | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 45.1% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 43.2% | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 44.3% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 52.0% | +17.4% |
| 2024 | 46.1% | -11.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21.4% | 21.4% | 21.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 27.3% | 27.3% | 27.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 35.4% | 35.2% | 35.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 40.4% | 37.8% | 43.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 46.1% | 43.2% | 52.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 59 Cape Verde 49.2% compare
- 60 Uganda 46.6% compare
- 61 Nigeria 46.1% compare
- 63 Bangladesh 45.5% compare
- 64 Rwanda 42.0% compare
- 65 Lao People's Democratic Republic 38.8% compare
More education data for India
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in India?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in India was 46.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 52.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.4% in 1981.
- How does India rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- India ranks 62nd out of 85 countries with data for 2024.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. 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 Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release