Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in India
India: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 35.15 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in India, 1971–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in India stood at 35.15 million number. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 90.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in India peaked at 35.15 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.47 million number, in 1971.
India ranks 2nd of 193 countries on this measure, 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 | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.47 million number | — |
| 1973 | 2.77 million number | +12.1% |
| 1976 | 3.04 million number | +9.8% |
| 1977 | 3.01 million number | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 3.16 million number | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 3.21 million number | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 3.28 million number | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 3.55 million number | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 3.41 million number | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 3.92 million number | +14.8% |
| 1984 | 4.21 million number | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 4.27 million number | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 4.47 million number | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 4.81 million number | +7.5% |
| 1988 | 4.28 million number | -11.0% |
| 1989 | 4.53 million number | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 4.78 million number | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 4.95 million number | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 4.93 million number | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 5.70 million number | +15.5% |
| 1997 | 6.06 million number | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 9.40 million number | +55.2% |
| 2001 | 9.83 million number | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 10.58 million number | +7.6% |
| 2003 | 11.29 million number | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 11.85 million number | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 11.78 million number | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 12.85 million number | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 14.86 million number | +15.6% |
| 2008 | 17.21 million number | +15.8% |
| 2009 | 18.50 million number | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 20.74 million number | +12.1% |
| 2011 | 26.65 million number | +28.5% |
| 2012 | 28.57 million number | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 28.18 million number | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 30.31 million number | +7.6% |
| 2015 | 32.11 million number | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 32.39 million number | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 33.37 million number | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 34.34 million number | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 35.15 million number | +2.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 35.15 million number is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 217,880 number, 161.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- India's 35.15 million number is above the median for South Asia, which is 382,022 number, 92.0× 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 number | 9.40 million number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.94 million number | 2.47 million number | 3.21 million number | 6 |
| 1980s | 4.07 million number | 3.28 million number | 4.81 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.28 million number | 4.78 million number | 6.06 million number | 5 |
| 2000s | 12.82 million number | 9.40 million number | 18.50 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.18 million number | 20.74 million number | 35.15 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.38 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.88 (2025)
- 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)
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 35.15 million number in 2019, 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 35.15 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.47 million number in 1971.
- How does India rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- India ranks 2nd out of 193 countries with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 90.0%. 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 — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.