Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in India
India: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 185.47 million in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in India, 2009–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2025, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in India stood at 185.47 million. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in India peaked at 198.76 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 185.47 million, in 2025.
That places India 1st out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 194.74 million | — |
| 2010 | 195.43 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 198.76 million | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 198.70 million | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 198.39 million | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 197.89 million | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 197.17 million | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 196.27 million | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 195.12 million | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 194.02 million | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 193.04 million | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 192.02 million | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 191.11 million | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 189.75 million | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 188.37 million | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 186.96 million | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 185.47 million | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 194.74 million | 194.74 million | 194.74 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 196.48 million | 193.04 million | 198.76 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 188.95 million | 185.47 million | 192.02 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 0.732 % change on previous year (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.04 million (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.15 million (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 21.75 million (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.58 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 22.14 million (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -0.0911 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in India?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in India was 185.47 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 198.76 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 185.47 million in 2025.
- How does India rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- India ranks 1st out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. 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 Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release