Adult literacy rate in India
78.2% of adults in India could read and write in 2024.
India, 2024
78.2%
Change from 2023
−3.5percentage points
World, 2024
87.7%
Median of G20 countries, 2024
94.7%
Adult literacy rate in India over time
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India
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of people aged 15 and above. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | India | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 78.2% | 87.7% |
| 2023 | 81.7% | 87.6% |
| 2022 | 76.3% | 87.4% |
| 2021 | 76.1% | 87.2% |
| 2020 | 75.5% | 87.0% |
| 2019 | 74.9% | 86.8% |
| 2018 | 73.7% | 86.8% |
| 2017 | – | 86.5% |
| 2016 | – | 86.3% |
| 2015 | – | 86.0% |
| 2014 | – | 85.6% |
| 2013 | – | 85.2% |
| 2012 | 69.8% | 84.9% |
| 2011 | 69.3% | 84.7% |
| 2010 | 68.3% | 84.4% |
| 2009 | – | 83.8% |
| 2008 | – | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | 62.8% | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | – | 82.6% |
| 2003 | – | 82.2% |
| 2002 | – | 81.7% |
| 2001 | 61.0% | 81.4% |
| 2000 | – | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- That is a change of −3.5 percentage points from 81.7% in 2023.
- Since 2006, when it was 62.8%, the figure has changed by +15.4 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2024 was 87.7%.
More for India
All statistics for India
Primary school enrolment (gross)
111.0%
2025 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
24.3%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
94.2%
2019 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
85.8%
2019 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
50.6%
2019 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
0.1%
2025 · UNESCO UIS