Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in India
India: Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes was 0.9% in 2016. ◆ Volatile
Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in India, 1973–2016
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2016, repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in India stood at 0.9%.
The figure is up 5.9% on the previous year and down 76.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in India peaked at 20.2% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2015.
That places India 121st out of 188 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 20.2% | — |
| 1986 | 4.0% | -80.3% |
| 1987 | 4.6% | +15.8% |
| 1994 | 3.7% | -19.1% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | -10.7% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +11.3% |
| 2003 | 3.5% | -11.4% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 4.8% | +30.4% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | +13.9% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | +54.2% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | -74.6% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | -45.3% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -30.2% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | +5.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 0.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.0%, 21% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's 0.9% is below the median for South Asia, which is 1.8%, 47% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 20.2% | 20.2% | 20.2% | 1 |
| 1980s | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | 3.5% | 5.4% | 7 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 0.8% | 8.4% | 5 |
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 repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in India?
- Repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in India was 0.9% in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 20.2% in 1973.
- What is the lowest repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2015.
- How does India rank for repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes?
- India ranks 121st out of 188 countries with data for 2016.
- Is repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of repeaters in a given grade in a given school year, expressed as a percentage of enrolment in that grade the previous school year. Divide the number of repeaters in a given grade in school year t+1 by the number of pupils from the same cohort enrolled in the same grade in the previous school year t.