Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in India
India: Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower was 5.7% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in India, 2013–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in India is 5.7%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.1% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in India peaked at 6.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 2022.
India ranks 82nd of 169 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 5.2% | — |
| 2020 | 5.9% | +14.2% |
| 2021 | 4.7% | -21.1% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | -22.7% |
| 2023 | 6.3% | +74.8% |
| 2024 | 5.7% | -10.1% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 5.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.9%, 58% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- India's 5.7% is above the median for South Asia, which is 4.7%, 1.2× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 1 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 3.6% | 6.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 79 Costa Rica 5.8% compare
- 80 Eswatini 5.8% compare
- 81 Timor-Leste 5.7% compare
- 83 Cuba 5.6% compare
- 84 Seychelles 5.5% compare
- 85 Colombia 5.4% compare
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 and adolescents of primary and lower in India?
- Out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower in India was 5.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 6.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 2022.
- How does India rank for out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower?
- India ranks 82nd out of 169 countries with data for 2024.
- Is out-of-school rate for children and adolescents of primary and lower rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release