Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in India

India: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 71.6% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
71.6%
World rank
64th
of 83 countries
All-time high
71.6%
in 2018
All-time low
37.1%
in 1981
Years of data
6
1981–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in India, 1981–2018

0204060801981199920181981: 37.1 %1991: 44.1 %2001: 57 %2006: 58.3 %2011: 65.4 %2018: 71.6 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

India recorded 71.6% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2018. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in India peaked at 71.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 37.1%, in 1981.

That places India 64th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 37.1% 37.1% 37.1% 1
1990s 44.1% 44.1% 44.1% 1
2000s 57.7% 57.0% 58.3% 2
2010s 68.5% 65.4% 71.6% 2

Countries ranked near India

  1. 61 Tanzania, United Republic of 77.5% compare
  2. 62 Cameroon 75.4% compare
  3. 63 Madagascar 72.6% compare
  4. 65 Morocco 71.4% compare
  5. 66 Bangladesh 70.7% compare
  6. 67 Rwanda 70.4% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in India?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in India was 71.6% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 71.6% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 37.1% in 1981.
How does India rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
India ranks 64th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in India. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 19 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.