Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in India

India: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female was 85.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
85.8%
Change on year
up 5.9%
World rank
41st
of 59 countries
All-time high
85.8%
in 2023
All-time low
46.7%
in 1981
Years of data
5
1981–2023

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in India, 1981–2023

0204060801981200220231981: 46.7 %2001: 66.2 %2011: 74.8 %2022: 81 %2023: 85.8 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in India is 85.8%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 14.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in India peaked at 85.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 46.7%, in 1981.

India ranks 41st of 59 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in India, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female (%) in India, 1981 to 2023.
Year % Change
1981 46.7%
2001 66.2% +42.0%
2011 74.8% +12.9%
2022 81.0% +8.4%
2023 85.8% +5.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 46.7% 46.7% 46.7% 1
2000s 66.2% 66.2% 66.2% 1
2010s 74.8% 74.8% 74.8% 1
2020s 83.4% 81.0% 85.8% 2

Countries ranked near India

  1. 38 Tanzania, United Republic of 88.8% compare
  2. 39 Iran, Islamic Republic of 87.9% compare
  3. 40 Rwanda 87.7% compare
  4. 42 Uganda 84.2% compare
  5. 43 Guatemala 84.0% compare
  6. 44 Togo 76.7% compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More education data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in India?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in India was 85.8% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 85.8% in 2023.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 46.7% in 1981.
How does India rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female?
India ranks 41st out of 59 countries with data for 2023.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in India. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-urban-female-percent-2/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
59 places, 680 data points, 1976–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release