India: School enrollment, primary, female (% gross)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, India's school enrollment, primary, female (% gross) fell 9.25 percentage points on 2024 (from 119.86% to 110.61%).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1991 to 2024), the average change was +1.15 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 3.81 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.7 standard deviations below that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 13.61 percentage points in 2003 and the biggest yearly fall was 9.25 percentage points in 2025. 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 upward, about 1.55 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 55% 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 13 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

• Nepal — 1st of 13: 126.38%
• Uzbekistan — 2nd of 13: 118.45%
• Gambia, The — 4th of 13: 108.23%
• Algeria — 5th of 13: 105.73%
• Burundi — 6th of 13: 101.6%

What this measures

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.

Limitations: Enrollment indicators are based on annual school surveys, but do not necessarily reflect actual attendance or dropout rates during the year. Also, the length of education differs across countries and can influence enrollment rates, although the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) tries to minimize the difference. For example, a shorter duration for primary education tends to increase the rate; a longer one to decrease it (in part because older children are more at risk of dropping out). Moreover, age at enrollment may be inaccurately estimated or misstated, especially in communities where registration of births is not strictly enforced.

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

All 52 values

School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — 113.07% (2024)
• Bhutan — 119.29% (2024)
• Maldives — 104.82% (2024)
• Nepal — 126.38% (2025)
• Sri Lanka — 92.09% (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, male (% gross) — 111.42% (2025)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.02 (2021)
• Secondary education, pupils — 133.16 million (2025)
• School enrollment, secondary (% gross) — 79.6% (2025)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is India's school enrollment, primary, female (% gross)?

110.61% in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 49.94 percentage points from 60.67% in 1971. The highest value was 119.86% in 2024 and the lowest 60.67% in 1971.

How does India rank?

3rd highest of 13 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in school enrollment, primary, female (% gross) unusual for India?

In 2025, India's school enrollment, primary, female (% gross) fell 9.25 percentage points on 2024 (from 119.86% to 110.61%). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1991 to 2024), the average change was +1.15 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 3.81 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.7 standard deviations below that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.ENRR.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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