Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in India
India: Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary was 17.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in India, 2013–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 17.8% for out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in India peaked at 19.3% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 16.8%, in 2021.
That places India 44th out of 178 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 19.3% | — |
| 2020 | 18.5% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 16.8% | -9.3% |
| 2022 | 17.0% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 18.9% | +11.1% |
| 2024 | 18.5% | -1.9% |
| 2025 | 17.8% | -4.2% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 17.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.8%, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- India's 17.8% is above the median for South Asia, which is 12.2%, 1.5× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 19.3% | 19.3% | 19.3% | 1 |
| 2020s | 17.9% | 16.8% | 18.9% | 6 |
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 out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in India?
- Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in India was 17.8% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 2013.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.8% in 2021.
- How does India rank for out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary?
- India ranks 44th out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school age, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release