India: Primary education, teachers (% female)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, India's primary education, teachers (% female) rose 0.96 percentage points on 2024 (from 57.64% to 58.6%).

Across the 16 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2024), the average change was +0.84 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.96 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations above 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 8 percentage points in 2003 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.21 percentage points in 1974. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2017 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.81 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 94% of the movement over 8 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 11th highest value of the 14 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

• Indonesia — 7th of 14: 72.37%
• Algeria — 8th of 14: 70.12%
• Thailand — 9th of 14: 68.29%
• Burundi — 11th of 14: 55.24%
• Lao PDR — 12th of 14: 54.89%
• Nepal — 13th of 14: 54.7%

What this measures

Female teachers as a percentage of total primary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.

Limitations: The indicator measures the level of gender representation in the teaching profession, rather than the effectiveness and quality of teaching.

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

All 22 values

Primary education, teachers (% female) in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — 65.87% (2024)
• Bhutan — 45.79% (2024)
• Maldives — 85.28% (2024)
• Nepal — 54.7% (2025)
• Sri Lanka — 87.86% (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 primary education, teachers (% female)?

58.6% in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 34.27 percentage points from 24.33% in 1971. The highest value was 58.6% in 2025 and the lowest 24.33% in 1971.

How does India rank?

11th highest of 14 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in primary education, teachers (% female) unusual for India?

In 2025, India's primary education, teachers (% female) rose 0.96 percentage points on 2024 (from 57.64% to 58.6%). Across the 16 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2024), the average change was +0.84 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.96 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations above 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.TCHR.FE.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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