Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes in India
India: Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes was 96.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes in India, 1981–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 96.7% for youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes in 2023. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes in India peaked at 96.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 45.6%, in 1981.
India ranks 33rd of 68 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 45.6% | — |
| 2001 | 71.5% | +56.9% |
| 2011 | 83.7% | +17.0% |
| 2016 | 88.3% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 96.1% | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 96.7% | +0.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 96.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 87.5%, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- India's 96.7% is above the median for South Asia, which is 96.7%, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 45.6% | 45.6% | 45.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 71.5% | 71.5% | 71.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 86.0% | 83.7% | 88.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 96.4% | 96.1% | 96.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
- 30 Panama 97.2% compare
- 31 El Salvador 97.2% compare
- 32 Tunisia 97.0% compare
- 34 South Africa 96.7% compare
- 35 Iran, Islamic Republic of 96.4% compare
- 36 Dominican Republic 95.9% compare
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 youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes in India?
- Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes in India was 96.7% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 96.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.6% in 1981.
- How does India rank for youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes?
- India ranks 33rd out of 68 countries with data for 2023.
- Is youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. 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 Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, rural, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release