Primary education, pupils in India
India: Primary education, pupils was 126.12 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
126.12 million
Change on year
down 8.9%
World rank
1st
of 206 countries
All-time high
139.87 million
in 2012
All-time low
57.05 million
in 1971
Years of data
52
1971–2025
Primary education, pupils in India, 1971–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2025, primary education, pupils in India stood at 126.12 million.
That represents a change of down 8.9% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in India peaked at 139.87 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 57.05 million, in 1971.
India ranks 1st of 206 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 57.05 million | — |
| 1972 | 58.82 million | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 62.40 million | +6.1% |
| 1974 | 63.13 million | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 64.86 million | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 65.66 million | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 69.06 million | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 67.36 million | -2.5% |
| 1979 | 68.60 million | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 71.18 million | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 73.87 million | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 76.11 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 79.51 million | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 82.59 million | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 83.93 million | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 87.44 million | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 87.13 million | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 90.46 million | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 95.74 million | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 97.32 million | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 99.12 million | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 101.58 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 105.37 million | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 108.20 million | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 109.04 million | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 109.73 million | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 110.39 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 109.41 million | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 110.99 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 113.61 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 113.83 million | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 115.19 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 125.57 million | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 137.74 million | +9.7% |
| 2008 | 139.32 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 138.37 million | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 138.41 million | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 135.32 million | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 139.87 million | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 132.04 million | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 127.89 million | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 127.83 million | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 126.56 million | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 123.81 million | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 122.38 million | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 120.05 million | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 121.70 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 122.03 million | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 131.35 million | +7.6% |
| 2023 | 131.30 million | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 138.37 million | +5.4% |
| 2025 | 126.12 million | -8.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 126.12 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.66 million, 76.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 126.12 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.57 million, 49.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 64.10 million | 57.05 million | 69.06 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 82.80 million | 71.18 million | 95.74 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 106.12 million | 97.32 million | 110.99 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 126.23 million | 113.61 million | 139.32 million | 7 |
| 2010s | 129.42 million | 120.05 million | 139.87 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 128.48 million | 121.70 million | 138.37 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 primary education, pupils in India?
- Primary education, pupils in India was 126.12 million in 2025, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 139.87 million in 2012.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.05 million in 1971.
- How does India rank for primary education, pupils?
- India ranks 1st out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.