School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) in India
India: School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) was 13.02 years in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
13.02 years
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
111th
of 186 countries
All-time high
13.37 years
in 2024
All-time low
5.85 years
in 1971
Years of data
40
1971–2025
School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in India, 1971–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in India is 13.02 years, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in India peaked at 13.37 years in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.85 years, in 1971.
India ranks 111th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) in India, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.85 years | — |
| 1973 | 6.12 years | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 6.17 years | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 6.33 years | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 6.18 years | -2.5% |
| 1980 | 6.38 years | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 6.56 years | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 6.69 years | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 6.95 years | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 7.14 years | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 7.38 years | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 7.24 years | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 7.27 years | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 7.44 years | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 8.05 years | +8.1% |
| 1996 | 8.05 years | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 8.07 years | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 8.71 years | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 8.6 years | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 8.8 years | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 9.42 years | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 10.49 years | +11.4% |
| 2008 | 10.8 years | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 10.73 years | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 11.07 years | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 11.49 years | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 11.75 years | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 11.8 years | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 12.16 years | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 12.26 years | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 12.68 years | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 12.54 years | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 11.85 years | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 11.79 years | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 12.17 years | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 12.44 years | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 13.03 years | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 13.03 years | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 13.37 years | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 13.02 years | -2.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 13.02 years is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.12 years, 1.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- India's 13.02 years is above the median for South Asia, which is 13.02 years, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.13 years | 5.85 years | 6.33 years | 5 |
| 1980s | 7.01 years | 6.38 years | 7.44 years | 9 |
| 1990s | 8.06 years | 8.05 years | 8.07 years | 3 |
| 2000s | 9.65 years | 8.6 years | 10.8 years | 7 |
| 2010s | 11.94 years | 11.07 years | 12.68 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.84 years | 12.17 years | 13.37 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 to tertiary, both sexes in India?
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in India was 13.02 years in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 13.37 years in 2024.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.85 years in 1971.
- How does India rank for school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- India ranks 111th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. 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 to tertiary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release