Persistence to last grade of primary, male in India

India: Persistence to last grade of primary, male was 72.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
72.5%
Change on year
down 27.0%
World rank
121st
of 164 countries
All-time high
99.4%
in 2020
All-time low
42.0%
in 1973
Years of data
13
1973–2023

Persistence to last grade of primary, male in India, 1973–2023

0204060801001973199820231973: 42 % of cohort1986: 54.8 % of cohort1987: 65.2 % of cohort1994: 61.5 % of cohort1999: 63.3 % of cohort2000: 59.2 % of cohort2001: 59.7 % of cohort2013: 82.2 % of cohort2015: 89.4 % of cohort2016: 88.3 % of cohort2019: 97.7 % of cohort2020: 99.4 % of cohort2023: 72.5 % of cohort

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of cohort.

Analysis

In 2023, persistence to last grade of primary, male in India stood at 72.5%.

The figure is down 27.0% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persistence to last grade of primary, male in India peaked at 99.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 42.0%, in 1973.

India ranks 121st of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.

Persistence to last grade of primary, male in India, year by year

Annual values for Persistence to last grade of primary, male (% of cohort) in India, 1973 to 2023.
Year % of cohort Change
1973 42.0%
1986 54.8% +30.5%
1987 65.2% +18.9%
1994 61.5% -5.7%
1999 63.3% +3.0%
2000 59.2% -6.5%
2001 59.7% +0.8%
2013 82.2% +37.7%
2015 89.4% +8.8%
2016 88.3% -1.3%
2019 97.7% +10.6%
2020 99.4% +1.8%
2023 72.5% -27.0%

India compared with similar countries

  • India's 72.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 73.9%, 98% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • India's 72.5% is below the median for South Asia, which is 84.6%, 86% of the median. (5 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 42.0% 42.0% 42.0% 1
1980s 60.0% 54.8% 65.2% 2
1990s 62.4% 61.5% 63.3% 2
2000s 59.5% 59.2% 59.7% 2
2010s 89.4% 82.2% 97.7% 4
2020s 86.0% 72.5% 99.4% 2

Countries ranked near India

  1. 118 Gambia 73.5% compare
  2. 119 Solomon Islands 73.1% compare
  3. 120 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 72.6% compare
  4. 122 Myanmar 72.2% compare
  5. 123 Yemen 71.8% compare
  6. 124 Chad 71.5% compare

See the full ranking of 209 places →

More education data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is persistence to last grade of primary, male in India?
Persistence to last grade of primary, male in India was 72.5% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest persistence to last grade of primary, male recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 99.4% in 2020.
What is the lowest persistence to last grade of primary, male recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 42.0% in 1973.
How does India rank for persistence to last grade of primary, male?
India ranks 121st out of 164 countries with data for 2023.
Is persistence to last grade of primary, male rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Persistence to last grade of primary, male (% of cohort). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Persistence to last grade of primary, male in India. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/persistence-to-last-grade-of-primary-male-percent-of-cohort/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Persistence to last grade of primary, male (% of cohort)
Unit
% of cohort
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
209 places, 5,490 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Persistence to last grade of primary is the percentage of children enrolled in the first grade of primary school who eventually reach the last grade of primary education. The estimate is based on the reconstructed cohort method.