Literacy rates of younger vs older population in India
India: Literacy rates of younger vs older population was 46.06 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates of younger vs older population in India, 1981–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
India recorded 46.06 for literacy rates of younger vs older population in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.4% on the previous year and up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of younger vs older population in India peaked at 51.99 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 21.45, in 1981.
That places India 62nd out of 85 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Literacy rates of younger vs older population in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 21.45 | — |
| 1991 | 27.26 | +27.1% |
| 2001 | 35.59 | +30.6% |
| 2006 | 35.22 | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 37.76 | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 41.6 | +10.2% |
| 2012 | 38.57 | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 40.77 | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 43.27 | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 45.09 | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 43.2 | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 44.3 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 51.99 | +17.4% |
| 2024 | 46.06 | -11.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21.45 | 21.45 | 21.45 | 1 |
| 1990s | 27.26 | 27.26 | 27.26 | 1 |
| 2000s | 35.41 | 35.22 | 35.59 | 2 |
| 2010s | 40.39 | 37.76 | 43.27 | 5 |
| 2020s | 46.13 | 43.2 | 51.99 | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 59 Cape Verde 49.25 compare
- 60 Uganda 46.6 compare
- 61 Nigeria 46.14 compare
- 63 Bangladesh 45.54 compare
- 64 Rwanda 42.05 compare
- 65 Lao People's Democratic Republic 38.84 compare
More education data for India
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,023 tertiary education (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.19 million (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.2% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 11 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of younger vs older population in India?
- Literacy rates of younger vs older population in India was 46.06 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates of younger vs older population recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 51.99 in 2023.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of younger vs older population recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.45 in 1981.
- How does India rank for literacy rates of younger vs older population?
- India ranks 62nd out of 85 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rates of younger vs older population rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates of younger vs older population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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