Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in India
India: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 5.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in India, 2000–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 5.6% for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in India peaked at 33.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2025.
India ranks 86th of 206 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.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.1% | — |
| 2001 | 30.7% | -7.3% |
| 2002 | 28.6% | -6.8% |
| 2003 | 26.7% | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 24.6% | -7.9% |
| 2005 | 22.7% | -7.7% |
| 2006 | 20.7% | -8.8% |
| 2007 | 18.5% | -10.6% |
| 2008 | 16.4% | -11.4% |
| 2009 | 14.6% | -11.0% |
| 2010 | 12.7% | -13.0% |
| 2011 | 11.0% | -13.4% |
| 2012 | 9.7% | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 8.6% | -11.3% |
| 2014 | 7.8% | -9.3% |
| 2015 | 7.3% | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 7.0% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 6.9% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 6.8% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 6.6% | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 6.5% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 6.3% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 6.1% | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 6.0% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 5.8% | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 5.6% | -3.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 5.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.6%, 58% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 5.6% is above the median for South Asia, which is 5.6%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.7% | 14.6% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.4% | 6.6% | 12.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.0% | 5.6% | 6.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 84 Singapore 6.1% compare
- 85 South Africa 5.7% compare
- 86 Bangladesh 5.6% compare
- 88 Bhutan 5.5% compare
- 88 Cameroon 5.5% compare
- 88 Timor-Leste 5.5% compare
- 88 Samoa 5.5% 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 of primary school age, both sexes in India?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in India was 5.6% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 33.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2025.
- How does India rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- India ranks 86th out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 of primary school age, both sexes (modelled data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release