Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in India

India: Enrolment in pre-primary education, female was 18.52 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
18.52 million
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
2nd
of 208 countries
All-time high
21.50 million
in 2017
All-time low
167,538
in 1971
Years of data
33
1971–2025

Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in India, 1971–2025

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M1971199820251971: 167.5k1972: 186.8k1973: 210.9k1975: 234.2k1976: 256.2k1977: 301.3k1978: 309.8k1981: 416.8k1982: 381.4k1983: 458.3k1984: 438.8k1985: 458.5k1986: 560.1k1987: 575.4k1988: 647.1k1989: 663.0k1990: 620.5k1991: 687.3k1992: 639.1k1993: 652.1k1994: 882.9k1995: 986.1k1996: 981.3k1997: 1.1M2017: 21.5M2018: 21.1M2019: 21.3M2020: 20.3M2021: 17.2M2022: 13.6M2023: 17.0M2024: 18.5M2025: 18.5M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2025, enrolment in pre-primary education, female in India stood at 18.52 million.

That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 13.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, female in India peaked at 21.50 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 167,538, in 1971.

That places India 2nd out of 208 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in India, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number) in India, 1971 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1971 167,538
1972 186,804 +11.5%
1973 210,898 +12.9%
1975 234,160 +11.0%
1976 256,187 +9.4%
1977 301,273 +17.6%
1978 309,750 +2.8%
1981 416,848 +34.6%
1982 381,404 -8.5%
1983 458,291 +20.2%
1984 438,794 -4.3%
1985 458,539 +4.5%
1986 560,150 +22.2%
1987 575,401 +2.7%
1988 647,096 +12.5%
1989 662,984 +2.5%
1990 620,526 -6.4%
1991 687,278 +10.8%
1992 639,116 -7.0%
1993 652,090 +2.0%
1994 882,886 +35.4%
1995 986,055 +11.7%
1996 981,279 -0.5%
1997 1.12 million +13.7%
2017 21.50 million +1827.6%
2018 21.15 million -1.6%
2019 21.34 million +0.9%
2020 20.26 million -5.1%
2021 17.17 million -15.2%
2022 13.59 million -20.9%
2023 17.03 million +25.3%
2024 18.51 million +8.7%
2025 18.52 million +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 238,087 167,538 309,750 7
1980s 511,056 381,404 662,984 9
1990s 820,568 620,526 1.12 million 8
2010s 21.33 million 21.15 million 21.50 million 3
2020s 17.51 million 13.59 million 20.26 million 6

Countries ranked near India

  1. 1 China (People’s Republic of) 19.36 million compare
  2. 3 Pakistan 4.90 million compare
  3. 4 United States 4.14 million compare
  4. 5 Russia 3.14 million compare

See the full ranking of 429 places →

More education data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in pre-primary education, female in India?
Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in India was 18.52 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, female recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 21.50 million in 2017.
What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, female recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 167,538 in 1971.
How does India rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, female?
India ranks 2nd out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
Is enrolment in pre-primary education, female rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in India. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-pre-primary-education-female-number-2/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
429 places, 16,912 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release