As of 2021, India recorded a higher nationwide literacy rate among men than women, at respectively **** percent of male population and **** percent of female population. The gender literacy gap was more evident in rural India, with only ** percent of women aged between 15 and 49 years being literate, compared to over ** percent of their male counterparts in the region.

Literacy in India has been increasing as more and more people receive a better education, but it is still far from all-encompassing. In 2023, the degree of literacy in India was about 77 percent, with the majority of literate Indians being men. It is estimated that the global literacy rate for people aged 15 and above is about 86 percent. How to read a literacy rateIn order to identify potential for intellectual and educational progress, the literacy rate of a country covers the level of education and skills acquired by a country’s inhabitants. Literacy is an important indicator of a country’s economic progress and the standard of living – it shows how many people have access to education. However, the standards to measure literacy cannot be universally applied. Measures to identify and define illiterate and literate inhabitants vary from country to country: In some, illiteracy is equated with no schooling at all, for example. Writings on the wallGlobally speaking, more men are able to read and write than women, and this disparity is also reflected in the literacy rate in India – with scarcity of schools and education in rural areas being one factor, and poverty another. Especially in rural areas, women and girls are often not given proper access to formal education, and even if they are, many drop out. Today, India is already being surpassed in this area by other emerging economies, like Brazil, China, and even by most other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. To catch up, India now has to offer more educational programs to its rural population, not only on how to read and write, but also on traditional gender roles and rights.

Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) in India was reported at 85 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

India literacy rate for 2022 was 76.32%, a 7.02% increase from 2011.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>India literacy rate for 2011 was <strong>69.30%</strong>, a <strong>6.55% increase</strong> from 2006.</li>
<li>India literacy rate for 2006 was <strong>62.75%</strong>, a <strong>1.74% increase</strong> from 2001.</li>
<li>India literacy rate for 2001 was <strong>61.01%</strong>, a <strong>12.79% increase</strong> from 1991.</li>
</ul>Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.

As per the estimates for the year 2023, the literacy rate among women in India was ** percent. Meanwhile, the literacy rate among their male Indian counterparts reached approximately 85 percent in the same period. The adult literacy rate in the country stood at ** percent.

Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) in India was reported at 98 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The data shows the year-wise and state or union territory-wise literacy and rural and urban literacy, for male, female, and total literacy, in India according to Census.

Note: 1. Literacy rate is defined as the population of literates in the population aged 7 year and above. 2. The 1991 data (Excluding Jammu & Kashmir)and 2001 data (Excludes figures of Paomata, Mao Maran and Pura sub-divisions of Senapati district of Manipur for 2001) refer to Census of India.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male (%) in India was reported at 61.67 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Literacy rate, youth (ages 15-24), gender parity index (GPI) in India was reported at 1 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Ratio of young literate females to males (% ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The statistic displays the literacy rate within the slum population in India in 2001 and 2011, distributed by gender. In 2001, more than ** percent of the male population living in slum households were able to read or write. The male literacy rate has increased by 2011 to just under ** percent. A high share of females living in slum households were illiterate.

In 2020, the digital literacy rate in India was found to be higher among men as compared to women. The rate of searching and browsing the internet was ** percent among the male population as compared to ** percent among the female population.

Among the states in India, Kerala had the highest literary rate with ** percent in 2011. Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and the capital territory of Delhi followed Kerala with above average literacy rates. Notably, all the leading states in the country had more literate males than females at the time of the census.

This dataset presents national-level literacy rates, compiled from multiple official sources, including the National Sample Survey (NSS), Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Population Census, National Family Health Survey (NFHS), and data published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

It provides literacy rates disaggregated by gender, region (urban and rural), and age group. The inclusion of age groups is essential, as the criteria for calculating literacy rates have changed over time. To allow consistent comparisons across sources and years, an ‘age group’ column is included in the dataset. In general, literacy is assessed based on whether a person above a specified age can read and write a simple message with understanding in at least one language. The age specified as per these sources is as follows:

Census: Population aged 7 years and above (used since 1981; previously, it was 5 years and above). Data is available for 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, and 2011 NSS: Population aged 5 years and above. Data is available for 2005, 2007-08, 2010, 2011-12, 2014, and 2017-18 PLFS: Survey typically covers population aged 15 years and above, but literacy data is also available for 5 years and above and 7 years and above. Data is available for 2017-18 to 2023-24. NFHS: Covers population aged 15–49 years only. Literacy rate refers to women and men who have completed standard 6, 9, or higher, or those who can read a full or partial sentence among individuals assumed to be literate. Data is available for 2005-06, 2015-16, and 2019-21. MoSPI: Follows the NSS age criteria, usually 5 years and above. Data is available for 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2011

Literacy Rate: Nagaland data was reported at 79.600 % in 12-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 66.590 % for 12-01-2001. Literacy Rate: Nagaland data is updated decadal, averaging 50.280 % from Dec 1951 (Median) to 12-01-2011, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 79.600 % in 12-01-2011 and a record low of 10.520 % in 12-01-1951. Literacy Rate: Nagaland data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Education Sector – Table IN.EDA001: Literacy Rate.

Literacy Rate: Uttar Pradesh data was reported at 67.700 % in 12-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 56.270 % for 12-01-2001. Literacy Rate: Uttar Pradesh data is updated decadal, averaging 32.650 % from Dec 1951 (Median) to 12-01-2011, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 67.700 % in 12-01-2011 and a record low of 12.020 % in 12-01-1951. Literacy Rate: Uttar Pradesh data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Education Sector – Table IN.EDA001: Literacy Rate.

The statistic displays the literacy rate in Kerala in India between 1991 and 2011, broken down by gender. In 2001, ** percent of the male population from Kerala knew how to read or write. India's literacy rate from 1981 through 2011 can be found here.

The statistic depicts the literacy rate in the state of Goa in India between 1991 and 2011, broken down by gender. In 2001, 88 percent of the male population living in Goa knew how to read or write. India's literacy rate from 1981 through 2011 can be found here.

Inde: Male literacy rate, ages 15-24: Pour cet indicateur, UNESCO fournit des données pour la Inde de 1981 à 2023. La valeur moyenne pour Inde pendant cette période était de 87.74 pour cent avec un minimum de 66 pour cent en 1981 et un maximum de 99.07 pour cent en 2020.

The statistic displays the literacy rate in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India between 1991 and 2011, broken down by gender. In 2001, close to 70 percent of the male population living in Uttar Pradesh knew how to read or write. India's literacy rate from 1981 through 2011 can be found here.

The statistic illustrates the literacy rate in the state of Bihar in India between 1991 and 2011, broken down by gender. In 2001, 60 percent of the male population living in Bihar knew how to read or write. India's literacy rate from 1981 through 2011 can be found here.