Average years of schooling in India
India: Average years of schooling was 6.66 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in India, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
India recorded 6.66 years for average years of schooling in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 37.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in India peaked at 6.66 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1 years, in 1870.
That places India 118th out of 162 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in India, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.1 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.11 years | +10.0% |
| 1890 | 0.15 years | +36.4% |
| 1900 | 0.29 years | +93.3% |
| 1913 | 0.37 years | +27.6% |
| 1925 | 0.5942 years | +60.6% |
| 1929 | 0.7 years | +17.8% |
| 1933 | 0.8259 years | +18.0% |
| 1938 | 0.93 years | +12.6% |
| 1950 | 1.16 years | +24.7% |
| 1955 | 1.31 years | +12.9% |
| 1960 | 1.46 years | +11.5% |
| 1965 | 1.65 years | +12.8% |
| 1970 | 2.01 years | +22.1% |
| 1975 | 2.39 years | +19.0% |
| 1980 | 2.69 years | +12.5% |
| 1985 | 3 years | +11.7% |
| 1990 | 3.33 years | +10.8% |
| 1995 | 3.81 years | +14.4% |
| 2000 | 4.51 years | +18.4% |
| 2005 | 4.67 years | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 4.84 years | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 6.3 years | +30.1% |
| 2020 | 6.66 years | +5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.11 years | 0.11 years | 0.11 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.15 years | 0.15 years | 0.15 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.29 years | 0.29 years | 0.29 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.37 years | 0.37 years | 0.37 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.6471 years | 0.5942 years | 0.7 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.8779 years | 0.8259 years | 0.93 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.23 years | 1.16 years | 1.31 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 1.55 years | 1.46 years | 1.65 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 2.2 years | 2.01 years | 2.39 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 2.85 years | 2.69 years | 3 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.57 years | 3.33 years | 3.81 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.59 years | 4.51 years | 4.67 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.57 years | 4.84 years | 6.3 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 6.66 years | 6.66 years | 6.66 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 126.12 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -8.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0862 units per person (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 60.33 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in India?
- Average years of schooling in India was 6.66 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 6.66 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 years in 1870.
- How does India rank for average years of schooling?
- India ranks 118th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.