School age population, primary education, both sexes in India

India: School age population, primary education, both sexes was 113.59 million in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
113.59 million
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
1st
of 222 countries
All-time high
125.14 million
in 2011
All-time low
71.28 million
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025

School age population, primary education, both sexes in India, 1970–2025

050.0M100.0M150.0M197019972025

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for school age population, primary education, both sexes in India is 113.59 million, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school age population, primary education, both sexes in India peaked at 125.14 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 71.28 million, in 1970.

India ranks 1st of 222 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.

School age population, primary education, both sexes in India, year by year

Annual values for School age population, primary education, both sexes (number) in India, 1970 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1970 71.28 million
1971 72.79 million +2.1%
1972 74.13 million +1.8%
1973 75.46 million +1.8%
1974 76.80 million +1.8%
1975 78.22 million +1.9%
1976 79.63 million +1.8%
1977 81.17 million +1.9%
1978 82.87 million +2.1%
1979 84.60 million +2.1%
1980 86.43 million +2.2%
1981 88.41 million +2.3%
1982 90.30 million +2.1%
1983 92.27 million +2.2%
1984 94.10 million +2.0%
1985 95.85 million +1.9%
1986 97.72 million +1.9%
1987 99.99 million +2.3%
1988 102.21 million +2.2%
1989 104.61 million +2.4%
1990 107.13 million +2.4%
1991 109.66 million +2.4%
1992 111.86 million +2.0%
1993 114.14 million +2.0%
1994 116.12 million +1.7%
1995 117.90 million +1.5%
1996 119.36 million +1.2%
1997 120.62 million +1.1%
1998 121.57 million +0.8%
1999 120.87 million -0.6%
2000 114.98 million -4.9%
2001 117.47 million +2.2%
2002 118.21 million +0.6%
2003 118.84 million +0.5%
2004 119.46 million +0.5%
2005 120.06 million +0.5%
2006 120.71 million +0.5%
2007 121.54 million +0.7%
2008 122.39 million +0.7%
2009 123.00 million +0.5%
2010 123.34 million +0.3%
2011 125.14 million +1.5%
2012 124.46 million -0.5%
2013 123.50 million -0.8%
2014 122.65 million -0.7%
2015 122.00 million -0.5%
2016 121.52 million -0.4%
2017 121.05 million -0.4%
2018 120.64 million -0.3%
2019 120.15 million -0.4%
2020 119.27 million -0.7%
2021 118.24 million -0.9%
2022 117.20 million -0.9%
2023 116.02 million -1.0%
2024 114.81 million -1.0%
2025 113.59 million -1.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 77.69 million 71.28 million 84.60 million 10
1980s 95.19 million 86.43 million 104.61 million 10
1990s 115.92 million 107.13 million 121.57 million 10
2000s 119.67 million 114.98 million 123.00 million 10
2010s 122.44 million 120.15 million 125.14 million 10
2020s 116.52 million 113.59 million 119.27 million 6

Countries ranked near India

  1. 2 China (People’s Republic of) 105.16 million compare
  2. 3 Nigeria 37.73 million compare
  3. 4 Pakistan 30.36 million compare

See the full ranking of 443 places →

More education data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is school age population, primary education, both sexes in India?
School age population, primary education, both sexes in India was 113.59 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 125.14 million in 2011.
What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 71.28 million in 1970.
How does India rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
India ranks 1st out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. 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 School age population, primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School age population, primary education, both sexes in India. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-age-population-primary-education-both-sexes-number-2/india/

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About this data

Indicator
School age population, primary education, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
443 places, 20,724 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release