Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in India
India: Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions was 49.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
49.2%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
191st
of 200 countries
All-time high
56.2%
in 2001
All-time low
45.7%
in 2016
Years of data
8
2001–2020
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in India, 2001–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 49.2% for percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in 2020.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in India peaked at 56.2% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 45.7%, in 2016.
India ranks 191st of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 56.2% | — |
| 2014 | 47.3% | -16.0% |
| 2015 | 47.1% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 45.7% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 45.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 49.4% | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 49.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 49.2% | -0.1% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 49.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 51.4%, 96% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's 49.2% is below the median for South Asia, which is 49.8%, 99% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56.2% | 56.2% | 56.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 47.4% | 45.7% | 49.4% | 6 |
| 2020s | 49.2% | 49.2% | 49.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 188 Malawi 49.5% compare
- 189 Bangladesh 49.3% compare
- 190 Sierra Leone 49.2% compare
- 192 Montserrat 49.2% compare
- 193 Kuwait 48.6% compare
- 194 Jordan 48.1% 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 percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in India?
- Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions in India was 49.2% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 56.2% in 2001.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.7% in 2016.
- How does India rank for percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions?
- India ranks 191st out of 200 countries with data for 2020.
- Is percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. 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 Percentage of enrolment in primary education in public institutions, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release