India: Children out of school, primary, female

Key figures

Over five years it is down 72.23% from 3.27 million in 2018 (22.61% a year on average, compounded). Since 1971 it is down 95.06% from 18.35 million in 1971 (5.62% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 35 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 3,268.2% in 2009 and the biggest yearly fall was 52.6% in 2012. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

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

How it compares

In 2023, India had the 2nd highest value of the 30 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 2023 ranking

• Nigeria — 1st of 30: 4.68 million
• Mali — 3rd of 30: 653,474
• South Africa — 4th of 30: 218,959
• Congo, Rep. — 5th of 30: 84,011

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 18 values

Children out of school, primary, female in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — 189,119 (2018)
• Bhutan — 2,533 (2024)
• Sri Lanka — 72,506 (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, female?

907,274 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is down 95.06% from 18.35 million in 1971 (5.62% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 18.35 million in 1971 and the lowest 15,573 in 2008.

How does India rank?

2nd highest of 30 economies with data for 2023.

Where does this data come from?

The World Bank's World Development Indicators, 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..

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.UNER.FE, 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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