Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in India
India: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female was 17.49 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in India, 1971–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in India is 17.49 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and up 140.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in India peaked at 17.49 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 527,113 number, in 1971.
India ranks 2nd of 187 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 in India, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 527,113 number | — |
| 1973 | 589,582 number | +11.9% |
| 1976 | 709,023 number | +20.3% |
| 1977 | 743,217 number | +4.8% |
| 1978 | 783,346 number | +5.4% |
| 1979 | 828,198 number | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 842,854 number | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 933,405 number | +10.7% |
| 1982 | 948,121 number | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 1.09 million number | +14.7% |
| 1984 | 1.17 million number | +7.7% |
| 1985 | 1.25 million number | +6.8% |
| 1986 | 1.34 million number | +6.9% |
| 1987 | 1.43 million number | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 1.35 million number | -6.0% |
| 1989 | 1.44 million number | +6.9% |
| 1990 | 1.55 million number | +7.9% |
| 1991 | 1.64 million number | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 1.70 million number | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 2.05 million number | +20.9% |
| 1997 | 2.20 million number | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 3.55 million number | +61.6% |
| 2001 | 3.80 million number | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 4.14 million number | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 4.34 million number | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 4.53 million number | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 4.64 million number | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 5.13 million number | +10.5% |
| 2007 | 5.82 million number | +13.4% |
| 2009 | 7.27 million number | +25.1% |
| 2010 | 8.30 million number | +14.1% |
| 2011 | 11.13 million number | +34.2% |
| 2013 | 12.94 million number | +16.3% |
| 2014 | 14.27 million number | +10.2% |
| 2015 | 15.15 million number | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 15.37 million number | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 16.05 million number | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 16.74 million number | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 17.49 million number | +4.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 17.49 million number is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 98,191 number, 178.2× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- India's 17.49 million number is above the median for South Asia, which is 216,300 number, 80.9× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female 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 number | 3.55 million number |
| 2011 | +34.2% | 8.30 million number | 11.13 million number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 696,746 number | 527,113 number | 828,198 number | 6 |
| 1980s | 1.18 million number | 842,854 number | 1.44 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.83 million number | 1.55 million number | 2.20 million number | 5 |
| 2000s | 4.80 million number | 3.55 million number | 7.27 million number | 9 |
| 2010s | 14.16 million number | 8.30 million number | 17.49 million number | 9 |
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 17.49 million number in 2019, 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 17.49 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 527,113 number in 1971.
- How does India rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- India ranks 2nd out of 187 countries with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 140.5%. 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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About this data
The total number of female students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.