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 0.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in India, 1971–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in India is 0.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.9% on the previous year and down 97.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in India peaked at 39.1% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2024.
India ranks 194th of 203 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 39.1% | — |
| 1990 | 23.4% | -40.1% |
| 2000 | 12.1% | -48.2% |
| 2001 | 13.7% | +13.3% |
| 2002 | 14.0% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 9.0% | -35.9% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | -90.1% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | -53.0% |
| 2009 | 1.8% | +331.1% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | -37.4% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | +141.0% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | -74.6% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -37.9% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | +852.2% |
| 2017 | 6.0% | +46.8% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 7.4% | +15.6% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | -45.0% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -43.0% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | -93.4% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | +861.8% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -92.9% |
| 2025 | 0.1% | +13.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 0.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.9%, 2% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's 0.1% is below the median for South Asia, which is 3.4%, 3% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +861.8% | 0.2% | 1.5% |
| 2016 | +852.2% | 0.4% | 4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 39.1% | 39.1% | 39.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 23.4% | 23.4% | 23.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 0.4% | 14.0% | 7 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | 0.4% | 7.4% | 8 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 0.1% | 4.1% | 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 of primary school age, both sexes in India?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in India was 0.1% 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 39.1% in 1971.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2024.
- How does India rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- India ranks 194th out of 203 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 97.1%. 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 (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release