Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in India
India: Literacy rates vs average years of schooling was 81.7 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in India, 1901–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
India recorded 81.7 for literacy rates vs average years of schooling in 2023. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.0% on the previous year and up 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates vs average years of schooling in India peaked at 81.7 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.2, in 1901.
India ranks 88th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 6.2 | — |
| 1911 | 7 | +12.9% |
| 1921 | 8.3 | +18.6% |
| 1931 | 9.1 | +9.6% |
| 1950 | 17.5 | +92.3% |
| 1981 | 40.76 | +132.9% |
| 1991 | 48.22 | +18.3% |
| 2001 | 61.01 | +26.5% |
| 2006 | 62.75 | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 68.33 | +8.9% |
| 2011 | 69.3 | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 69.83 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 73.69 | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 74.89 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 75.53 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 76.06 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 76.32 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 81.7 | +7.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 81.7 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- India's 81.7 is above the median for South Asia, which is 80.35, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Literacy rates vs average years of schooling 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +132.9% | 17.5 | 40.76 |
| 1950 | +92.3% | 9.1 | 17.5 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 1 |
| 1910s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| 1920s | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 1 |
| 1930s | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 1 |
| 1950s | 17.5 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 1 |
| 1980s | 40.76 | 40.76 | 40.76 | 1 |
| 1990s | 48.22 | 48.22 | 48.22 | 1 |
| 2000s | 61.88 | 61.01 | 62.75 | 2 |
| 2010s | 71.21 | 68.33 | 74.89 | 5 |
| 2020s | 77.4 | 75.53 | 81.7 | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.38 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.88 (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates vs average years of schooling in India?
- Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in India was 81.7 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 81.7 in 2023.
- What is the lowest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2 in 1901.
- How does India rank for literacy rates vs average years of schooling?
- India ranks 88th out of 128 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rates vs average years of schooling rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates vs average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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