Share of the population with lower secondary education in India
India: Share of the population with lower secondary education was 52.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of the population with lower secondary education in India, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of the population with lower secondary education in India stood at 52.7%. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 40.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with lower secondary education in India peaked at 52.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 1971.
India ranks 100th of 135 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of the population with lower secondary education in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.0% | — |
| 1981 | 16.2% | +221.8% |
| 2011 | 37.6% | +131.4% |
| 2016 | 42.1% | +12.1% |
| 2018 | 46.1% | +9.6% |
| 2019 | 46.1% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 49.3% | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 49.8% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 52.7% | +5.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 16.2% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 43.0% | 37.6% | 46.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 50.6% | 49.3% | 52.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near India
- 97 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 54.0% compare
- 98 Thailand 53.6% compare
- 99 Nigeria 53.4% compare
- 101 Costa Rica 52.4% compare
- 102 Belize 52.2% compare
- 103 El Salvador 49.2% compare
More education data for India
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 68.40 million (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.3178 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37.89 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.2585 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 43.90 million (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 0.732 % change on previous year (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.04 million (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.15 million (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 21.75 million (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.58 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with lower secondary education in India?
- Share of the population with lower secondary education in India was 52.7% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 52.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 1971.
- How does India rank for share of the population with lower secondary education?
- India ranks 100th out of 135 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population with lower secondary education rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.3%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults aged 25 and older who have completed lower secondary education or higher.