Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both in India
India: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both was 43.90 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in India, 1971–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
India recorded 43.90 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in 2025. That is the highest value across all 55 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 (number) 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 … gaps filled both in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.47 million | — |
| 1972 | 2.62 million | +6.1% |
| 1973 | 2.77 million | +5.7% |
| 1974 | 2.86 million | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 2.95 million | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 3.04 million | +3.1% |
| 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% |
| 1992 | 4.95 million | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 4.94 million | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 4.94 million | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 4.93 million | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 5.70 million | +15.5% |
| 1997 | 6.06 million | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 7.18 million | +18.4% |
| 1999 | 8.29 million | +15.5% |
| 2000 | 9.40 million | +13.4% |
| 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 … gaps filled both 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +28.5% | 20.74 million | 26.65 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.90 million | 2.47 million | 3.21 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.07 million | 3.28 million | 4.81 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.67 million | 4.78 million | 8.29 million | 10 |
| 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 (number) in India?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in India was 43.90 million in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 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 (number) 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 (number)?
- India ranks 2nd out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 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 Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.