School life expectancy, primary and secondary, female (years) (life) in India
India: School life expectancy, primary and secondary, female (years) (life) was 11.27 years in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
11.27 years
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
123rd
of 208 countries
All-time high
11.72 years
in 2016
All-time low
4 years
in 1971
Years of data
45
1971–2025
School life expectancy, primary and secondary, female in India, 1971–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2025, school life expectancy, primary and secondary, female in India stood at 11.27 years.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, primary and secondary, female in India peaked at 11.72 years in 2016 and was at its lowest, 4 years, in 1971.
India ranks 123rd of 208 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
School life expectancy, primary and secondary, female (years) (life) in India, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 4 years | — |
| 1972 | 4.08 years | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 4.27 years | +4.7% |
| 1975 | 4.36 years | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 4.37 years | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 4.52 years | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 4.37 years | -3.4% |
| 1980 | 4.58 years | +4.8% |
| 1981 | 4.74 years | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 4.83 years | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 5.14 years | +6.4% |
| 1984 | 5.21 years | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 5.54 years | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 5.48 years | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 5.58 years | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 5.7 years | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 6.51 years | +14.1% |
| 1994 | 6.63 years | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 6.59 years | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 6.59 years | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 6.67 years | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 6.57 years | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 7.17 years | +9.1% |
| 2001 | 7.11 years | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 7.37 years | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 8.35 years | +13.3% |
| 2007 | 9.38 years | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 9.75 years | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 9.76 years | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 9.99 years | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 10.04 years | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 10.37 years | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 10.81 years | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 11.09 years | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 11.14 years | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 11.72 years | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 11.5 years | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 10.4 years | -9.5% |
| 2019 | 10.33 years | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 10.53 years | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 10.69 years | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 11.29 years | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 11.22 years | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 11.57 years | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 11.27 years | -2.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 11.27 years is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.64 years, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 11.27 years is below the median for South Asia, which is 11.64 years, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.28 years | 4 years | 4.52 years | 7 |
| 1980s | 5.2 years | 4.58 years | 5.7 years | 9 |
| 1990s | 6.59 years | 6.51 years | 6.67 years | 6 |
| 2000s | 8.41 years | 7.11 years | 9.76 years | 7 |
| 2010s | 10.74 years | 9.99 years | 11.72 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.09 years | 10.53 years | 11.57 years | 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 school life expectancy, primary and secondary, female in India?
- School life expectancy, primary and secondary, female in India was 11.27 years in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, primary and secondary, female recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 11.72 years in 2016.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, primary and secondary, female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 years in 1971.
- How does India rank for school life expectancy, primary and secondary, female?
- India ranks 123rd out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school life expectancy, primary and secondary, female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. 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 life expectancy, primary and secondary, female (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release