Share of the population with at least some formal education in India
India: Share of the population with at least some formal education was 79.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population with at least some formal education in India, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 79.4% for share of the population with at least some formal 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, share of the population with at least some formal 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.
Share of the population with at least some formal education in India, year by year
| Year | % | 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 | 8.0% | +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 | 27.0% | +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 | 65.0% | +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 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 2 |
| 1890s | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 2 |
| 1900s | 4.5% | 3.4% | 5.7% | 2 |
| 1910s | 9.1% | 8.0% | 10.2% | 2 |
| 1920s | 15.2% | 14.1% | 16.4% | 2 |
| 1930s | 19.9% | 18.9% | 20.8% | 2 |
| 1940s | 23.4% | 22.5% | 24.3% | 2 |
| 1950s | 26.3% | 25.6% | 27.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 29.1% | 28.6% | 29.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 34.8% | 34.4% | 35.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 39.1% | 35.1% | 43.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 52.0% | 49.9% | 54.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 61.6% | 58.3% | 65.0% | 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
- 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 share of the population with at least some formal education in India?
- Share of the population with at least some formal education in India was 79.4% in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with at least some formal education recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 79.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population with at least some formal education recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1870.
- How does India rank for share of the population with at least some formal education?
- India ranks 93rd out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with at least some formal 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 Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with at least some formal education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Based on the population aged 15 years and older.