India: Children out of school, primary

Key figures

Over five years it is down 97.23% from 4.87 million in 2020 (51.19% a year on average, compounded). Since 1971 it is down 99.53% from 28.44 million in 1971 (9.43% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 32 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2025, India's children out of school, primary rose 12.7% on 2024 (from 119,749 to 134,967).

Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2024), the average change was +53.1% and a typical year strayed about 230.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 853.4% in 2023 and the biggest yearly fall was 93.4% in 2022. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is downward, about 924,774 a year. A straight line explains 69% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, India had the 3rd highest value of the 12 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to India in the 2025 ranking

• Burundi — 1st of 12: 661,724
• Indonesia — 2nd of 12: 250,575
• Kazakhstan — 4th of 12: 128,155
• Lao PDR — 5th of 12: 82,273
• Algeria — 6th of 12: 78,683

What this measures

Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school.

Limitations: Due to different data sources for enrollment and population data, the number may not capture the actual number of children not attending in primary school.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 23 values

Children out of school, primary in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — 918,575 (2024)
• Bhutan — 8,385 (2024)
• Maldives — 417.77 (2024)
• Nepal — 21,146 (2025)
• Sri Lanka — 157,499 (2023)

More education data for India

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 5 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 11 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 126.12 million (2025)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 111.03% (2025)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 110.61% (2025)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 111.42% (2025)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.02 (2021)
• Secondary education, pupils — 133.16 million (2025)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is India's children out of school, primary?

134,967 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is down 99.53% from 28.44 million in 1971 (9.43% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 28.44 million in 1971 and the lowest 119,749 in 2024.

How does India rank?

3rd highest of 12 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in children out of school, primary unusual for India?

In 2025, India's children out of school, primary rose 12.7% on 2024 (from 119,749 to 134,967). Across the 17 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2024), the average change was +53.1% and a typical year strayed about 230.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.UNER, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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