Primary education, pupils in India
India: Primary education, pupils was 50.9% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Primary education, pupils in India, 1971–2017
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % female.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in India is 50.9%, measured in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in India peaked at 51.1% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 37.3%, in 1971.
That places India 4th out of 203 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in India, year by year
| Year | % female | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 37.3% | — |
| 1972 | 37.5% | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 37.8% | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 37.8% | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 37.9% | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 38.1% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 38.2% | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 37.8% | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 38.3% | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 38.4% | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 38.6% | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 38.6% | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 38.9% | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 39.0% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 39.5% | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 40.2% | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 40.7% | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 40.8% | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 40.3% | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 40.7% | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 41.4% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 41.7% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 42.6% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 42.9% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 42.9% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 43.2% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 43.4% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 43.5% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 43.5% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 43.6% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 43.8% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 44.2% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 46.8% | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 46.9% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 47.6% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 47.9% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 47.8% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 48.0% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 48.1% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 49.9% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 49.9% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 50.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 51.1% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 50.9% | -0.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 50.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 48.6%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 50.9% is above the median for South Asia, which is 49.9%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 37.9% | 37.3% | 38.3% | 9 |
| 1980s | 39.5% | 38.4% | 40.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.6% | 40.7% | 43.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.8% | 43.6% | 47.9% | 7 |
| 2010s | 49.5% | 47.8% | 51.1% | 8 |
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 primary education, pupils in India?
- Primary education, pupils in India was 50.9% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 51.1% in 2016.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.3% in 1971.
- How does India rank for primary education, pupils?
- India ranks 4th out of 203 countries with data for 2017.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils (% female). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.