India: Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, total (%) (cumulative)

Key figures

Over five years it is up 8.57 percentage points from 59.56% in 2018. Since 1994 it is up 34.22 percentage points from 33.91% in 1994. The World Bank has no value for 17 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

How it compares

In 2023, India had the 39th highest value of the 42 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

• Türkiye — 36th of 42: 86.23%
• Indonesia — 37th of 42: 83.83%
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 38th of 42: 69.22%
• El Salvador — 40th of 42: 64.54%
• Tunisia — 41st of 42: 56.62%
• Cambodia — 42nd of 42: 49.01%

What this measures

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed primary education.

Limitations: Caution is required when using this indicator for cross-country comparison, since the countries do not always classify degrees and qualifications at the same International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) levels, even if they are received at roughly the same age or after a similar number of years of schooling. Also, certain educational programmes and study courses cannot be easily classified according to ISCED. This indicator only measures educational attainment in terms of level of education attained, i.e. years of schooling, and does not necessarily reveal the quality of the education (learning achievement and other impacts).

All 13 values

Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, total (%) (cumulative) in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — 54.68% (2022)
• Sri Lanka — 87.32% (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)

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Questions people ask

What is India's educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, total (%) (cumulative)?

68.13% in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1994?

It is up 34.22 percentage points from 33.91% in 1994. The highest value was 68.13% in 2023 and the lowest 33.91% in 1994.

How does India rank?

39th highest of 42 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.CUAT.ZS, 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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