Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in India
India: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 21.75 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in India, 1971–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in India is 21.75 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 43.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in India peaked at 21.75 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 527,113, in 1971.
India ranks 2nd of 195 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, female (number) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 527,113 | — |
| 1973 | 589,582 | +11.9% |
| 1976 | 709,023 | +20.3% |
| 1977 | 743,217 | +4.8% |
| 1978 | 783,346 | +5.4% |
| 1979 | 828,198 | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 842,854 | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 933,405 | +10.7% |
| 1982 | 948,121 | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 1.09 million | +14.7% |
| 1984 | 1.17 million | +7.7% |
| 1985 | 1.25 million | +6.8% |
| 1986 | 1.34 million | +6.9% |
| 1987 | 1.43 million | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 1.35 million | -6.0% |
| 1989 | 1.44 million | +6.9% |
| 1990 | 1.55 million | +7.9% |
| 1991 | 1.64 million | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 1.70 million | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 2.05 million | +20.9% |
| 1997 | 2.20 million | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 3.55 million | +61.6% |
| 2001 | 3.80 million | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 4.14 million | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 4.34 million | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 4.53 million | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 4.64 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 5.13 million | +10.5% |
| 2007 | 5.82 million | +13.4% |
| 2009 | 7.27 million | +25.1% |
| 2010 | 8.30 million | +14.1% |
| 2011 | 11.13 million | +34.2% |
| 2012 | 12.69 million | +14.0% |
| 2013 | 12.94 million | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 14.27 million | +10.2% |
| 2015 | 15.15 million | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 15.37 million | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 16.05 million | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 16.74 million | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 17.49 million | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 18.20 million | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 19.03 million | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 19.70 million | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 21.02 million | +6.7% |
| 2024 | 21.42 million | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 21.75 million | +1.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 21.75 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 142,539, 152.6× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- India's 21.75 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 290,120, 75.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (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 | +61.6% | 2.20 million | 3.55 million |
| 2011 | +34.2% | 8.30 million | 11.13 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 696,746 | 527,113 | 828,198 | 6 |
| 1980s | 1.18 million | 842,854 | 1.44 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.83 million | 1.55 million | 2.20 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 4.80 million | 3.55 million | 7.27 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 14.01 million | 8.30 million | 17.49 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.19 million | 18.20 million | 21.75 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, female in India?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in India was 21.75 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 21.75 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 527,113 in 1971.
- How does India rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- India ranks 2nd out of 195 countries with data for 2025.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.6%. 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release