Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female (%) (literacy) in India
India: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female (%) (literacy) was 31.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female in India, 1981–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female in India stood at 31.4%.
The figure is down 17.1% on the previous year and up 38.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female in India peaked at 37.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 1981.
India ranks 60th of 90 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, female (%) (literacy) in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 7.8% | — |
| 1991 | 12.5% | +60.1% |
| 2001 | 19.6% | +57.6% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 22.1% | +20.7% |
| 2011 | 26.7% | +20.9% |
| 2012 | 22.7% | -15.1% |
| 2018 | 26.2% | +15.5% |
| 2019 | 28.2% | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 29.2% | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 28.9% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 30.7% | +6.3% |
| 2023 | 37.9% | +23.5% |
| 2024 | 31.4% | -17.1% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 31.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 31.2%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- India's 31.4% is above the median for South Asia, which is 31.4%, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.8% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 12.5% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 19.0% | 18.3% | 19.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.2% | 22.1% | 28.2% | 5 |
| 2020s | 31.6% | 28.9% | 37.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 57 Tunisia 35.1% compare
- 58 Uganda 34.2% compare
- 59 Cape Verde 33.8% compare
- 61 Rwanda 31.3% compare
- 62 Bangladesh 31.2% compare
- 63 Democratic Republic of Congo 30.4% compare
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 elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female in India?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female in India was 31.4% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 37.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 1981.
- How does India rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female?
- India ranks 60th out of 90 countries with data for 2024.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.4%. 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release