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

Latest (2025)
43.90 million
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
2nd
of 200 countries
All-time high
43.90 million
in 2025
All-time low
2.47 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1971–2025

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in India, 1971–2025

010.0M20.0M30.0M40.0M197119982025

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, both sexes (number) in India, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in India, 1971 to 2025.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 1 China 60.67 million compare
  2. 3 United States 18.05 million compare
  3. 4 Brazil 10.55 million compare
  4. 5 Indonesia 9.85 million compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for India

All data for India →

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.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in India. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/india/

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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

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

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
421 places, 19,011 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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.