Girls and boys who are out of school in India
India: Girls and boys who are out of school was 907,274 girls in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Girls and boys who are out of school in India, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in girls.
Analysis
The most recent figure for girls and boys who are out of school in India is 907,274 girls, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.7% on the previous year and up 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, girls and boys who are out of school in India peaked at 18.35 million girls in 1971 and was at its lowest, 15,573 girls, in 2008.
That places India 9th out of 180 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Girls and boys who are out of school in India, year by year
| Year | girls | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 18.35 million girls | — |
| 1990 | 17.94 million girls | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 11.07 million girls | -38.3% |
| 2001 | 11.71 million girls | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 11.56 million girls | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 6.03 million girls | -47.9% |
| 2008 | 15,573 girls | -99.7% |
| 2009 | 524,536 girls | +3268.2% |
| 2010 | 323,812 girls | -38.3% |
| 2011 | 1.43 million girls | +343.1% |
| 2012 | 680,442 girls | -52.6% |
| 2016 | 1.72 million girls | +152.1% |
| 2017 | 2.95 million girls | +71.8% |
| 2018 | 3.27 million girls | +10.9% |
| 2019 | 3.88 million girls | +18.9% |
| 2020 | 2.00 million girls | -48.4% |
| 2021 | 1.13 million girls | -43.6% |
| 2023 | 907,274 girls | -19.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18.35 million girls | 18.35 million girls | 18.35 million girls | 1 |
| 1990s | 17.94 million girls | 17.94 million girls | 17.94 million girls | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.82 million girls | 15,573 girls | 11.71 million girls | 6 |
| 2010s | 2.04 million girls | 323,812 girls | 3.88 million girls | 7 |
| 2020s | 1.35 million girls | 907,274 girls | 2.00 million girls | 3 |
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 girls and boys who are out of school in India?
- Girls and boys who are out of school in India was 907,274 girls in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest girls and boys who are out of school recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 18.35 million girls in 1971.
- What is the lowest girls and boys who are out of school recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 15,573 girls in 2008.
- How does India rank for girls and boys who are out of school?
- India ranks 9th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is girls and boys who are out of school rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.3%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Girls and boys who are out of school. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Girls in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.