School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) in India
India: School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) was 11.46 years in 2019. ▲ Rising
School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in India, 1971–2019
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in India is 11.46 years, measured in 2019.
The figure is down 5.7% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in India peaked at 12.34 years in 2016 and was at its lowest, 5.84 years, in 1971.
India ranks 130th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) in India, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.84 years | — |
| 1973 | 6.1 years | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 6.17 years | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 6.34 years | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 6.18 years | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 6.39 years | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 6.59 years | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 6.71 years | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 6.98 years | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 7.17 years | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 7.42 years | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 7.3 years | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 7.33 years | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 7.5 years | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 8.15 years | +8.7% |
| 1996 | 8.18 years | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 8.21 years | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 8.31 years | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 8.34 years | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 8.53 years | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 9.12 years | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 10.18 years | +11.6% |
| 2008 | 10.48 years | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 10.42 years | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 10.74 years | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 11.29 years | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 11.52 years | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 11.54 years | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 11.86 years | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 11.95 years | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 12.34 years | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 12.16 years | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 11.46 years | -5.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 11.46 years is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.24 years, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's 11.46 years is below the median for South Asia, which is 12.63 years, 91% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.13 years | 5.84 years | 6.34 years | 5 |
| 1980s | 7.04 years | 6.39 years | 7.5 years | 9 |
| 1990s | 8.18 years | 8.15 years | 8.21 years | 3 |
| 2000s | 9.34 years | 8.31 years | 10.48 years | 7 |
| 2010s | 11.65 years | 10.74 years | 12.34 years | 9 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.38 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.88 (2025)
- 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)
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 11.46 years in 2019, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 12.34 years in 2016.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.84 years in 1971.
- How does India rank for school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- India ranks 130th out of 183 countries with data for 2019.
- Is school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. 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 School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expected years of schooling is the number of years a child of school entrance age is expected to spend at school, or university, including years spent on repetition. It is the sum of the age-specific enrolment ratios for primary, secondary, post-secondary non-tertiary and tertiary education.