Population having attained at least basic education in India
India: Population having attained at least basic education was 79.4 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
79.4
World rank
93rd
of 111 countries
All-time high
79.4
in 2020
All-time low
0.4
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Population having attained at least basic education in India, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
India recorded 79.4 for population having attained at least basic education in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population having attained at least basic education in India peaked at 79.4 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.4, in 1870.
India ranks 93rd of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population having attained at least basic education in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.4 | — |
| 1875 | 0.5 | +25.0% |
| 1880 | 0.7 | +40.0% |
| 1885 | 1.1 | +57.1% |
| 1890 | 1.8 | +63.6% |
| 1895 | 2.6 | +44.4% |
| 1900 | 3.4 | +30.8% |
| 1905 | 5.7 | +67.6% |
| 1910 | 8 | +40.4% |
| 1915 | 10.2 | +27.5% |
| 1920 | 14.1 | +38.2% |
| 1925 | 16.4 | +16.3% |
| 1930 | 18.9 | +15.2% |
| 1935 | 20.8 | +10.1% |
| 1940 | 22.5 | +8.2% |
| 1945 | 24.3 | +8.0% |
| 1950 | 25.6 | +5.3% |
| 1955 | 27 | +5.5% |
| 1960 | 28.6 | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 29.7 | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 34.4 | +15.8% |
| 1975 | 35.1 | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 35.1 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 43.1 | +22.8% |
| 1990 | 49.9 | +15.8% |
| 1995 | 54.2 | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 58.3 | +7.6% |
| 2005 | 65 | +11.5% |
| 2010 | 69.9 | +7.5% |
| 2015 | 75.1 | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 79.4 | +5.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 79.4 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 85.2, 93% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.45 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 2 |
| 1890s | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 2 |
| 1900s | 4.55 | 3.4 | 5.7 | 2 |
| 1910s | 9.1 | 8 | 10.2 | 2 |
| 1920s | 15.25 | 14.1 | 16.4 | 2 |
| 1930s | 19.85 | 18.9 | 20.8 | 2 |
| 1940s | 23.4 | 22.5 | 24.3 | 2 |
| 1950s | 26.3 | 25.6 | 27 | 2 |
| 1960s | 29.15 | 28.6 | 29.7 | 2 |
| 1970s | 34.75 | 34.4 | 35.1 | 2 |
| 1980s | 39.1 | 35.1 | 43.1 | 2 |
| 1990s | 52.05 | 49.9 | 54.2 | 2 |
| 2000s | 61.65 | 58.3 | 65 | 2 |
| 2010s | 72.5 | 69.9 | 75.1 | 2 |
| 2020s | 79.4 | 79.4 | 79.4 | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.38 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.88 (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population having attained at least basic education in India?
- Population having attained at least basic education in India was 79.4 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population having attained at least basic education recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 79.4 in 2020.
- What is the lowest population having attained at least basic education recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4 in 1870.
- How does India rank for population having attained at least basic education?
- India ranks 93rd out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population having attained at least basic education rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population having attained at least basic education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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