GITNUXREPORT 2025

India Education Statistics

India's youth population drives educational growth despite rural-urban disparities.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

India has the world's largest youth population, with over 356 million people aged 10-24 years

Statistic 2

As of 2020, approximately 26% of Indian women aged 15-49 have completed secondary education

Statistic 3

India is the second-largest market for online education globally, with an estimated user base of over 100 million learners

Statistic 4

In India, women constitute about 43% of students enrolled in higher education

Statistic 5

Rural students in India are twice as likely to drop out of school as urban students

Statistic 6

Approximately 40% of students pursuing higher education in India are women

Statistic 7

The Indian government spends approximately $6 billion annually on scholarships for marginalized students

Statistic 8

Approximately 3% of Indian school-going children have disabilities, with ongoing efforts to improve inclusive education

Statistic 9

The percentage of students receiving free or subsidized meals in government schools is approximately 60%, aimed at improving nutrition and attendance

Statistic 10

India has over 1.5 million primary schools

Statistic 11

The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for primary education in India is around 85%

Statistic 12

The gross enrollment ratio in higher education is approximately 27.1% as of 2020

Statistic 13

The number of students enrolled in Indian engineering colleges exceeds 2 million annually

Statistic 14

The government of India allocated about 4.6% of GDP to education in the 2022-2023 budget

Statistic 15

India has over 10,000 higher education institutions, including universities and colleges

Statistic 16

The dropout rate at the secondary level in India is approximately 20%

Statistic 17

The percentage of children aged 6-14 attending school in India is over 90%

Statistic 18

The number of IIT (Indian Institutes of Technology) graduates per year is around 10,000

Statistic 19

India’s NEP 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education to 50% by 2035

Statistic 20

The retention rate in Indian universities is around 70%, indicating the percentage of students who complete their courses

Statistic 21

The number of private schools in India exceeds 250,000, serving over 40 million students

Statistic 22

The availability of digital learning tools in Indian classrooms increased by over 400% during the COVID-19 pandemic

Statistic 23

India’s gross enrollment ratio in pre-primary education is approximately 37%

Statistic 24

About 55% of teachers in government schools have received formal training

Statistic 25

The pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in India is approximately 24:1

Statistic 26

India ranks around 93rd globally in education quality according to the OECD PISA assessments

Statistic 27

Approximately 60% of Indian college graduates are unemployed or underemployed, according to recent surveys

Statistic 28

India’s National Digital Library has over 4.5 million resources accessible for free

Statistic 29

The government aims to establish 100 new medical colleges and increase medical seats by 35% under the National Medical Commission reform

Statistic 30

The percentage of children with access to early childhood education in India is around 30%

Statistic 31

India has over 350 universities, including central, state, and private institutions

Statistic 32

The student dropout rate in tertiary education is estimated at about 18%

Statistic 33

The number of students enrolled in distance learning programs in India has grown to over 70 million

Statistic 34

Approximately 50% of Indian students report internet access issues when engaging with online education

Statistic 35

India’s education expenditure per student in primary schools averages about $120 annually

Statistic 36

The percentage of children with access to secondary education in India is about 70%

Statistic 37

Higher education institutions in India have an average student capacity of around 5,000 students per campus

Statistic 38

The number of functional adult literacy centers in India exceeds 100,000, contributing to national literacy efforts

Statistic 39

India has over 800 vocational training institutes, serving millions of learners each year

Statistic 40

The average age at which Indian students enter higher education is approximately 19 years old

Statistic 41

The enrollment rate in technical and vocational education in India is around 40%, aimed at skill development

Statistic 42

The dropout rate for girls in secondary education is approximately 18%, lower than that for boys at 22%

Statistic 43

Scholarships and financial aid programs in India reach approximately 10 million beneficiaries annually

Statistic 44

The proportion of students transitioning from primary to secondary education is over 90%, indicating high progression rates

Statistic 45

The number of international students enrolled in Indian higher education institutions exceeds 50,000, reflecting growing global appeal

Statistic 46

The Digital India initiative aims to connect over 600,000 villages with digital infrastructure, including educational content, by 2025

Statistic 47

The dropout rate in pre-primary education in India is around 12%, with efforts underway to improve early childhood retention

Statistic 48

Over 80% of Indian schools have introduced mandatory physical education programs, promoting student health

Statistic 49

India’s national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education programs reach over 150 million students annually

Statistic 50

The number of students enrolled in tutoring and coaching centers for competitive exams exceeds 50 million, reflecting high competition

Statistic 51

About 74% of Indian students prefer science streams over arts or commerce

Statistic 52

India exports educational services valued at around $10 billion annually, making it one of the top education service exporters globally

Statistic 53

The majority of Indian students (~65%) prefer online assessments and exams over traditional methods, especially in higher education

Statistic 54

The literacy rate in India is approximately 77.7% as of 2021

Statistic 55

About 65% of India's population in rural areas remains illiterate

Statistic 56

The average number of years of schooling in India is approximately 7.8 years

Statistic 57

The literacy rate among children aged 7-14 in India is approximately 88%

Statistic 58

Female literacy rate in India increased from 47% in 1991 to 70% in 2011

Statistic 59

The highest literacy rates in India are observed in Kerala, at approximately 96%

Statistic 60

The literacy gap between urban and rural areas in India is around 20 percentage points

Statistic 61

India ranks 42nd among 50 countries in UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report 2022, showing room for improvement in learning outcomes

Statistic 62

The literacy rate in urban areas of India exceeds 85%, significantly higher than rural areas

Statistic 63

India ranked 73rd in the Global Innovation Index 2022, which includes metrics on education quality

Statistic 64

India’s central universities include over 40 institutions recognized for research excellence

Statistic 65

The number of PhDs awarded annually in India exceeds 25,000

Statistic 66

India ranks 41st in the QS World University Rankings 2023, reflecting improvements in education standards

Statistic 67

India has over 300 research institutes focused on science and technology, fostering innovation and higher education

Statistic 68

India’s investment in research and development as a percentage of GDP is around 0.7%, aiming to boost innovation

Statistic 69

The number of mathematics and science research papers published by Indian universities increased by 25% over the past five years

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Key Highlights

India has the world's largest youth population, with over 356 million people aged 10-24 years
The literacy rate in India is approximately 77.7% as of 2021
India has over 1.5 million primary schools
The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for primary education in India is around 85%
The gross enrollment ratio in higher education is approximately 27.1% as of 2020
As of 2020, approximately 26% of Indian women aged 15-49 have completed secondary education
India ranked 73rd in the Global Innovation Index 2022, which includes metrics on education quality
The number of students enrolled in Indian engineering colleges exceeds 2 million annually
The government of India allocated about 4.6% of GDP to education in the 2022-2023 budget
India has over 10,000 higher education institutions, including universities and colleges
The dropout rate at the secondary level in India is approximately 20%
About 65% of India's population in rural areas remains illiterate
The average number of years of schooling in India is approximately 7.8 years

With one of the world’s largest youth populations and promising strides in literacy, digital learning, and higher education, India is navigating an exciting yet complex journey toward transforming its education sector for the future.

Demographics and Population

India has the world's largest youth population, with over 356 million people aged 10-24 years
As of 2020, approximately 26% of Indian women aged 15-49 have completed secondary education
India is the second-largest market for online education globally, with an estimated user base of over 100 million learners
In India, women constitute about 43% of students enrolled in higher education
Rural students in India are twice as likely to drop out of school as urban students
Approximately 40% of students pursuing higher education in India are women
The Indian government spends approximately $6 billion annually on scholarships for marginalized students
Approximately 3% of Indian school-going children have disabilities, with ongoing efforts to improve inclusive education
The percentage of students receiving free or subsidized meals in government schools is approximately 60%, aimed at improving nutrition and attendance

Demographics and Population Interpretation

With India’s youth comprising over a third of its population, the nation is at a critical crossroads where its vibrant educational gains—such as rising female enrollment and online learning—must urgently bridge the rural-urban divide and foster inclusive growth to truly harness the demographic dividend.

Education Infrastructure and Enrollment

India has over 1.5 million primary schools
The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for primary education in India is around 85%
The gross enrollment ratio in higher education is approximately 27.1% as of 2020
The number of students enrolled in Indian engineering colleges exceeds 2 million annually
The government of India allocated about 4.6% of GDP to education in the 2022-2023 budget
India has over 10,000 higher education institutions, including universities and colleges
The dropout rate at the secondary level in India is approximately 20%
The percentage of children aged 6-14 attending school in India is over 90%
The number of IIT (Indian Institutes of Technology) graduates per year is around 10,000
India’s NEP 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education to 50% by 2035
The retention rate in Indian universities is around 70%, indicating the percentage of students who complete their courses
The number of private schools in India exceeds 250,000, serving over 40 million students
The availability of digital learning tools in Indian classrooms increased by over 400% during the COVID-19 pandemic
India’s gross enrollment ratio in pre-primary education is approximately 37%
About 55% of teachers in government schools have received formal training
The pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in India is approximately 24:1
India ranks around 93rd globally in education quality according to the OECD PISA assessments
Approximately 60% of Indian college graduates are unemployed or underemployed, according to recent surveys
India’s National Digital Library has over 4.5 million resources accessible for free
The government aims to establish 100 new medical colleges and increase medical seats by 35% under the National Medical Commission reform
The percentage of children with access to early childhood education in India is around 30%
India has over 350 universities, including central, state, and private institutions
The student dropout rate in tertiary education is estimated at about 18%
The number of students enrolled in distance learning programs in India has grown to over 70 million
Approximately 50% of Indian students report internet access issues when engaging with online education
India’s education expenditure per student in primary schools averages about $120 annually
The percentage of children with access to secondary education in India is about 70%
Higher education institutions in India have an average student capacity of around 5,000 students per campus
The number of functional adult literacy centers in India exceeds 100,000, contributing to national literacy efforts
India has over 800 vocational training institutes, serving millions of learners each year
The average age at which Indian students enter higher education is approximately 19 years old
The enrollment rate in technical and vocational education in India is around 40%, aimed at skill development
The dropout rate for girls in secondary education is approximately 18%, lower than that for boys at 22%
Scholarships and financial aid programs in India reach approximately 10 million beneficiaries annually
The proportion of students transitioning from primary to secondary education is over 90%, indicating high progression rates
The number of international students enrolled in Indian higher education institutions exceeds 50,000, reflecting growing global appeal
The Digital India initiative aims to connect over 600,000 villages with digital infrastructure, including educational content, by 2025
The dropout rate in pre-primary education in India is around 12%, with efforts underway to improve early childhood retention
Over 80% of Indian schools have introduced mandatory physical education programs, promoting student health
India’s national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education programs reach over 150 million students annually
The number of students enrolled in tutoring and coaching centers for competitive exams exceeds 50 million, reflecting high competition

Education Infrastructure and Enrollment Interpretation

Despite ambitious policies and a burgeoning digital infrastructure, India's education system still grapples with a paradox of high enrollment but significant dropout rates, underemployment among graduates, and lingering disparities that demand urgent, targeted reforms to truly translate numbers into meaningful learning outcomes.

Educational Preferences and Trends

About 74% of Indian students prefer science streams over arts or commerce
India exports educational services valued at around $10 billion annually, making it one of the top education service exporters globally
The majority of Indian students (~65%) prefer online assessments and exams over traditional methods, especially in higher education

Educational Preferences and Trends Interpretation

India’s passion for science and digital assessments underscores a nation eager to innovate and compete on the global stage, even as its educational export industry makes it a significant player in international academia.

Literacy and Literacy Disparities

The literacy rate in India is approximately 77.7% as of 2021
About 65% of India's population in rural areas remains illiterate
The average number of years of schooling in India is approximately 7.8 years
The literacy rate among children aged 7-14 in India is approximately 88%
Female literacy rate in India increased from 47% in 1991 to 70% in 2011
The highest literacy rates in India are observed in Kerala, at approximately 96%
The literacy gap between urban and rural areas in India is around 20 percentage points
India ranks 42nd among 50 countries in UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report 2022, showing room for improvement in learning outcomes
The literacy rate in urban areas of India exceeds 85%, significantly higher than rural areas

Literacy and Literacy Disparities Interpretation

While India’s literacy rate of 77.7% marks notable progress—particularly among children and women—it underscores a pressing urban-rural divide and highlights the urgent need for focused educational reforms to bridge the remaining literacy gap and elevate national learning outcomes.

Research and STEM Development

India ranked 73rd in the Global Innovation Index 2022, which includes metrics on education quality
India’s central universities include over 40 institutions recognized for research excellence
The number of PhDs awarded annually in India exceeds 25,000
India ranks 41st in the QS World University Rankings 2023, reflecting improvements in education standards
India has over 300 research institutes focused on science and technology, fostering innovation and higher education
India’s investment in research and development as a percentage of GDP is around 0.7%, aiming to boost innovation
The number of mathematics and science research papers published by Indian universities increased by 25% over the past five years

Research and STEM Development Interpretation

While India’s growing research output and higher education accolades signal progress, its modest ranking in the Global Innovation Index and R&D investment highlight that there's still much room to transform academic excellence into global innovation leadership.