Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in India
India: Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both was 21.45 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
21.45 million
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
1st
of 222 countries
All-time high
24.92 million
in 2008
All-time low
14.97 million
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in India, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2025, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in India stood at 21.45 million.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in India peaked at 24.92 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 14.97 million, in 1970.
That places India 1st out of 222 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 14.97 million | — |
| 1971 | 15.25 million | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 15.44 million | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 15.71 million | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 16.05 million | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 16.40 million | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 16.65 million | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 16.98 million | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 17.42 million | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 17.79 million | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 18.23 million | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 18.63 million | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 18.88 million | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 19.39 million | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 19.62 million | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 19.98 million | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 20.50 million | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 21.14 million | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 21.60 million | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 22.02 million | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 22.49 million | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 23.01 million | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 23.34 million | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 23.87 million | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 23.99 million | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 24.26 million | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 24.47 million | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 24.59 million | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 24.80 million | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 24.69 million | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 23.43 million | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 23.95 million | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 24.06 million | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 24.13 million | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 24.23 million | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 24.32 million | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 24.51 million | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 24.81 million | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 24.92 million | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 24.80 million | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 24.65 million | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 24.79 million | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 24.49 million | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 24.30 million | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 24.25 million | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 24.28 million | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 24.25 million | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 24.10 million | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 23.91 million | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 23.72 million | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 23.30 million | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 23.00 million | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 22.64 million | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 22.24 million | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 21.86 million | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 21.45 million | -1.8% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 21.45 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 257,184, 83.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 21.45 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 436,818, 49.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.26 million | 14.97 million | 17.79 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.00 million | 18.23 million | 22.02 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.95 million | 22.49 million | 24.80 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.32 million | 23.43 million | 24.92 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.27 million | 23.72 million | 24.79 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.41 million | 21.45 million | 23.30 million | 6 |
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 population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in India?
- Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in India was 21.45 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 24.92 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.97 million in 1970.
- How does India rank for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both?
- India ranks 1st out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release