Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in India
India: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 43.90 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in India, 1971–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in India is 43.90 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 47 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 36.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in India peaked at 43.90 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.47 million, in 1971.
That places India 2nd out of 200 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.47 million | — |
| 1973 | 2.77 million | +12.1% |
| 1976 | 3.04 million | +9.8% |
| 1977 | 3.01 million | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 3.16 million | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 3.21 million | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 3.28 million | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 3.55 million | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 3.41 million | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 3.92 million | +14.8% |
| 1984 | 4.21 million | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 4.27 million | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 4.47 million | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 4.81 million | +7.5% |
| 1988 | 4.28 million | -11.0% |
| 1989 | 4.53 million | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 4.78 million | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 4.95 million | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 4.93 million | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 5.70 million | +15.5% |
| 1997 | 6.06 million | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 9.40 million | +55.2% |
| 2001 | 9.83 million | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 10.58 million | +7.6% |
| 2003 | 11.29 million | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 11.85 million | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 11.78 million | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 12.85 million | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 14.86 million | +15.6% |
| 2008 | 17.21 million | +15.8% |
| 2009 | 18.50 million | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 20.74 million | +12.1% |
| 2011 | 26.65 million | +28.5% |
| 2012 | 28.57 million | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 28.18 million | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 30.31 million | +7.6% |
| 2015 | 32.11 million | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 32.39 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 33.37 million | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 34.34 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 35.15 million | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 36.39 million | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 38.87 million | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 40.55 million | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 42.78 million | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 43.58 million | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 43.90 million | +0.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 43.90 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 252,098, 174.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- India's 43.90 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 495,636, 88.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in India changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +55.2% | 6.06 million | 9.40 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.94 million | 2.47 million | 3.21 million | 6 |
| 1980s | 4.07 million | 3.28 million | 4.81 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.28 million | 4.78 million | 6.06 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 12.82 million | 9.40 million | 18.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.18 million | 20.74 million | 35.15 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.01 million | 36.39 million | 43.90 million | 6 |
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 enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in India?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in India was 43.90 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 43.90 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.47 million in 1971.
- How does India rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- India ranks 2nd out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.7%. 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release