Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in India
India: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes was 73.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in India, 1981–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in India is 73.5%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 7.6% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in India peaked at 73.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 40.9%, in 1981.
That places India 36th out of 57 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 40.9% | — |
| 2001 | 57.0% | +39.2% |
| 2011 | 63.9% | +12.1% |
| 2022 | 68.3% | +6.9% |
| 2023 | 73.5% | +7.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 40.9% | 40.9% | 40.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 57.0% | 57.0% | 57.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 63.9% | 63.9% | 63.9% | 1 |
| 2020s | 70.9% | 68.3% | 73.5% | 2 |
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 elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in India?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in India was 73.5% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 73.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.9% in 1981.
- How does India rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes?
- India ranks 36th out of 57 countries with data for 2023.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. 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, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release