Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in India
India: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 126.12 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
126.12 million
Change on year
down 8.9%
World rank
1st
of 218 countries
All-time high
139.87 million
in 2012
All-time low
57.05 million
in 1971
Years of data
52
1971–2025
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in India, 1971–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2025, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in India stood at 126.12 million.
The figure is down 8.9% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in India peaked at 139.87 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 57.05 million, in 1971.
That places India 1st out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 57.05 million | — |
| 1972 | 58.82 million | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 62.40 million | +6.1% |
| 1974 | 63.13 million | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 64.86 million | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 65.66 million | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 69.06 million | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 67.36 million | -2.5% |
| 1979 | 68.60 million | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 71.18 million | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 73.87 million | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 76.11 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 79.51 million | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 82.59 million | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 83.93 million | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 87.44 million | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 87.13 million | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 90.46 million | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 95.74 million | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 97.32 million | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 99.12 million | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 101.58 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 105.37 million | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 108.20 million | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 109.04 million | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 109.73 million | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 110.39 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 109.41 million | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 110.99 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 113.61 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 113.83 million | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 115.19 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 125.57 million | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 137.74 million | +9.7% |
| 2008 | 139.32 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 138.37 million | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 138.41 million | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 135.32 million | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 139.87 million | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 132.04 million | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 127.89 million | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 127.83 million | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 126.56 million | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 123.81 million | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 122.38 million | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 120.05 million | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 121.70 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 122.03 million | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 131.35 million | +7.6% |
| 2023 | 131.30 million | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 138.37 million | +5.4% |
| 2025 | 126.12 million | -8.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 64.10 million | 57.05 million | 69.06 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 82.80 million | 71.18 million | 95.74 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 106.12 million | 97.32 million | 110.99 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 126.23 million | 113.61 million | 139.32 million | 7 |
| 2010s | 129.42 million | 120.05 million | 139.87 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 128.48 million | 121.70 million | 138.37 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,023 tertiary education (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.19 million (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.2% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 11 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in India?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in India was 126.12 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 139.87 million in 2012.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.05 million in 1971.
- How does India rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- India ranks 1st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. 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 Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release