Literacy in India 2026
A literate person is one of a nation’s most valuable assets. Being able to read, write and follow instructions is the starting point for almost everything else, from getting a decent job to reading a medicine label or understanding a bank form. A high literacy rate means a workforce that can pick up new skills, communicate clearly and take part in a modern economy.
India’s literacy rate has climbed steadily, and the newest official numbers put it above 80% for the first time on a national survey. Still, the average hides big differences. A child born in Mizoram or Kerala grows up in a place where nearly everyone can read, while in parts of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan roughly one in four people still cannot. This report walks through the latest national and state figures, explains how they are measured, and points out where the older numbers you may have seen online no longer apply.
Why does India’s literacy rate matter so much? Because literacy is the foundation of opportunity. People who can read and write can reach information, understand their rights, look after their health and earn more over a lifetime. Literacy is also closely tied to lower child mortality, later marriage and better school outcomes for the next generation, which is why it sits at the centre of most development goals.
Literacy Rate in India 2026
India’s literacy rate is 80.9% for people aged seven and above, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 from the National Statistical Office. That is the most recent official literacy estimate. It compares with 74.04% in the 2011 Census, an increase of about 7 percentage points in roughly thirteen years. For people aged five and above, the national rate is 79.7%.
A quick note on numbers you may have seen elsewhere. Many websites still quote 77.7% as India’s current literacy rate. That figure comes from the National Sample Survey’s 75th round, which was conducted between July 2017 and June 2018. It was accurate for that period, but it is now several years old, and the PLFS 2023-24 estimate has replaced it.
The national picture is still uneven. Kerala remains among the most literate states, and Mizoram now leads the country. On the other side of the ledger, the lowest rates are in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Globally, the adult literacy rate is estimated at roughly 87%, so India is now within about six points of the world average.
On 8 September, International Literacy Day is marked around the world, and 2026 is its 60th anniversary. The day is also a good moment to check progress, and the Ministry of Education uses it every year to honour states that have reached full literacy.
| Literacy Rate of India (age 7+, PLFS 2023-24) | 80.9% |
|---|---|
| Male literacy rate of India | 87.2% |
| Female literacy rate of India | 74.6% |
The male literacy rate stands at 87.2% and the female literacy rate at 74.6%, which leaves a gap of 12.6 percentage points. That gap has narrowed steadily over the decades, helped by school enrolment drives for girls, free textbooks, cycle and scholarship schemes, and a wider push for adult education. It is still large, though, and it is widest in the states with the lowest overall literacy. Girls in poorer families are still more likely to leave school early because of household work, distance to school or early marriage.
| Literacy Rate in Urban Areas of India | 88.9% |
|---|---|
| Literacy Rate in Rural Areas of India | 77.5% |
The literacy rate is 88.9% in urban India and 77.5% in rural India, a gap of 11.4 percentage points. Rural areas have more villages without a nearby secondary school, fewer trained teachers and higher poverty, all of which slow down progress.
Highest Literacy Rate in India
Mizoram has the highest literacy rate among Indian states at 98.2%, according to PLFS 2023-24. The union territory of Lakshadweep is next at 97.3%, followed by Kerala at 95.3%, Tripura at 93.7% and Goa at 93.6%.
Mizoram’s numbers are particularly even. Male literacy is 99.2% and female literacy is 97.0%, so the gap is just 2.2 points. In Kerala the male rate is 96.7% and the female rate is 94.0%. These two states record the smallest gender differences in the country, and both have historically depended on strong community and church networks, high female literacy and schools within walking distance of almost every home.
| State / UT | Literacy Rate (7+) |
|---|---|
| Mizoram | 98.2% |
| Lakshadweep | 97.3% |
| Kerala | 95.3% |
| Tripura | 93.7% |
| Goa | 93.6% |
Source: Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023-24, National Statistical Office, MoSPI.
| Highest Literacy State in India | Mizoram |
|---|---|
| Highest Literacy in a Union Territory | Lakshadweep |
| Smallest Gender Gap | Mizoram and Kerala |
Lowest Literacy Rate in India
Andhra Pradesh has the lowest literacy rate in the PLFS 2023-24 state tables at 72.6%, followed closely by Bihar at 74.3%, Madhya Pradesh at 75.2% and Rajasthan at 75.8%. Some official summaries of the survey highlight Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan as the weakest performers, but the state-level tables put Andhra Pradesh a little lower still.
The gender gap in these states is much wider than the national average. In Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the difference between male and female literacy runs between 16 and 20 percentage points.
| State | Literacy Rate (7+) |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 72.6% |
| Bihar | 74.3% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 75.2% |
| Rajasthan | 75.8% |
| Jharkhand | 76.7% |
| Telangana | 76.9% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 78.2% |
| Chhattisgarh | 78.5% |
Source: Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023-24, National Statistical Office, MoSPI.
The urban-rural divide is sharpest in these same states. In Madhya Pradesh, rural literacy is 71.6% against 85.7% in cities. In Bihar, the rates are 72.1% and 83.2%, and in Rajasthan they are 72.5% and 84.7%. A village in these states can be more than 12 percentage points behind a nearby town.
| Lowest Literacy State in India | Andhra Pradesh |
|---|---|
| Lowest Literacy Among the Hindi-Belt States | Bihar |
| Widest Gender Gaps | Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan |
Fully Literate States and Union Territories in India
India now has an official label for places that have essentially finished the job. Under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme), a centrally sponsored scheme running from 2022 to 2027, a state or union territory is declared fully literate once it crosses 95% literacy among people aged 15 and above. Learners are certified through the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test.
| State / UT | Declared Fully Literate |
|---|---|
| Ladakh | June 2024 (first union territory) |
| Mizoram | May 2025 |
| Goa | May 2025 |
| Tripura | June 2025 (95.6%) |
| Himachal Pradesh | September 2025 (99.3%) |
Source: Ministry of Education, ULLAS declarations.
By International Literacy Day 2026, Himachal Pradesh was reporting 99.5% literacy under the programme, the second-highest in the country after Goa at about 99.7%. Reports from July 2026 also describe Uttarakhand as the sixth state declared fully literate.
You may notice that ULLAS numbers are higher than the PLFS ones. Goa, for example, is at about 99.7% under ULLAS but 93.6% in the PLFS. The two are measuring different things. PLFS is a household sample survey covering everyone aged seven and above, including young children who are still learning to read. ULLAS counts adults aged 15 and above and relies on programme assessments against a 95% benchmark. Both are useful, but they should not be compared directly.
State wise Highest Literacy Rate in India
The most literate state in India in the PLFS 2023-24 is Mizoram, with a rate of 98.2%. Kerala, which topped the older survey tables for years, is now third among states and union territories at 95.3%, behind Mizoram and Lakshadweep.
Kerala’s lead in the older NSS 75th round (2017-18), where it recorded 96.2% with male literacy at 97.4% and female at 95.2%, was based on a different survey and time period. The two numbers should not be set against each other, and both show Kerala in the very top group.
Statewise Lowest Literacy Rate in India
The least literate state in India in the PLFS 2023-24 tables is Andhra Pradesh, at 72.6%.
Andhra Pradesh’s position surprises many readers because the state is often seen as a strong performer on incomes and schooling. The gap between it and its neighbour Telangana, which sits at 76.9%, is small, and both trail the national average of 80.9%.
What is Literacy?
It helps to be clear about what is being counted. The Indian census defines literacy as “the ability to read and write with understanding.” Anyone aged seven or above who can read and write in at least one language is counted as literate. A person who can only read, or can only sign their name, is not.
UNESCO and India’s National Literacy Mission use slightly broader definitions. The international definition from UNESCO has three parts:
- The ability to read and write;
- Knowledge of a language;
- The skills needed for a person to work, communicate and participate in society.
India has also started to widen the idea in practice. The ULLAS programme tests foundational literacy and numeracy along with digital literacy and financial literacy, reflecting the fact that being able to read a text message or use a payments app is now part of everyday life.
How to Find Literacy Rate
The literacy rate is the share of people in an area or group who can read and write.
Literacy Rate = (number of literate persons / population aged 7 or above) × 100
Number of illiterates (per 100 people aged 7+) = 100 – literacy rate
The age cut-off matters. India’s census and PLFS count people aged 7 and above, while many international figures use 15 and above. That is one reason two sources can quote different numbers for the same country in the same year.
The Importance of Literacy
Literacy is one of the core indicators of human development, and it is widely used to compare countries and regions. It shapes almost every other outcome in a household. Parents who can read are better placed to follow a child’s schoolwork, use health services and claim the benefits they are entitled to.
Education levels in India are also moving up beyond basic literacy. The PLFS Annual Report for 2025, released on 27 March 2026, found that 67.8% of people aged 15 and above have at least a secondary education. The share is 79.7% in urban areas and 61.9% in rural areas. The average person aged 15 and above with any formal schooling has spent 10.0 years in education. Because the PLFS design changed in January 2025, these figures are best treated as a fresh baseline and not a direct comparison with earlier years.
The next census, the first since 2011, is being prepared. When its results arrive, they will replace the survey estimates in this article with a full headcount of literacy in every district.
Illiteracy in India
Illiteracy means being unable to read and write. There is rarely a single cause, and in most households several problems stack up together.
Main Factors of Low Literacy Rate in India
- Extensive poverty
- Little importance given to education
- Schools that are too far away
- Classroom shortages for students
- Poor sanitation in many schools
- No safe drinking water at school
- No usable toilets
- Dropouts due to caste discrimination
- Gender inequality
The main drivers of low literacy in India are socio-economic. Two elements matter most: poverty and gender disparity. Female literacy trails male literacy in every state, and women still make up most of the country’s non-literate adults. Poor households also have far less access to schooling than richer ones.
Poverty makes it hard for parents to send children to school. Books, uniforms and transport cost money, and a child who works can add to the household income. That trade-off creates a cycle in which low education keeps incomes low, and low incomes keep the next generation out of school. Poor quality of teaching adds to the problem, because children who do attend do not always learn to read with understanding.
The story of poverty and literacy is closely linked. Read more in our report on poverty in India, where states such as Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh show up on both lists.
Census of India – Historic Literacy Rates
| Census Year | Male | Female | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1881 | 8.1% | 0.35% | 4.32% |
| 1891 | 8.44% | 0.42% | 4.62% |
| 1901 | 9.8% | 0.6% | 5.4% |
| 1911 | 10.6% | 1.0% | 5.9% |
| 1921 | 12.2% | 1.8% | 7.2% |
| 1931 | 15.6% | 2.9% | 9.5% |
| 1941 | 24.9% | 7.3% | 16.1% |
| 1951 | 27.16% | 8.86% | 18.33% |
| 1961 | 40.4% | 15.35% | 28.3% |
| 1971 | 45.96% | 21.97% | 34.45% |
| 1981 | 56.38% | 29.76% | 43.57% |
| 1991 | 64.13% | 39.29% | 52.21% |
| 2001 | 75.26% | 53.67% | 64.83% |
| 2011 | 82.14% | 65.46% | 74.04% |
Source: Census of India. The census is the only full headcount. The rows below are sample survey estimates and are not directly comparable.
| Survey | Male | Female | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSS 75th round (2017-18) | 84.7% | 70.3% | 77.7% |
| PLFS (2023-24) | 87.2% | 74.6% | 80.9% |
The long-run story is dramatic. Literacy in India has risen from about 18% in 1951 to about 81% today. Female literacy has moved even faster, from under 9% in 1951 to nearly 75% in the latest survey. Between the 2011 Census and PLFS 2023-24, male literacy rose by about 5 points and female literacy by about 9 points, so the gender gap has narrowed from 16.7 points to 12.6 points.
Kerala Literacy Rate
| 1951 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2023-24 (PLFS) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerala | 47.18% | 55.08% | 69.75% | 78.85% | 89.81% | 90.86% | 93.91% | 95.3% |
Kerala has been among India’s most literate states for decades, and it also tops many education development rankings. Most rural households have a primary school within a short distance, and subsidised transport is available for students, especially in rural areas. After independence, successive state governments kept education and public libraries at the centre of policy.
The state’s literacy campaign in the late 1980s and early 1990s is still studied around the world. It began in Ernakulam district, which was declared fully literate in 1990. The model was then replicated in other districts, and Kerala as a whole was declared fully literate in 1991. Volunteers and local officials did most of the work, and special attention went to areas that needed more progress.
Kerala also made news for a different milestone on 1 November 2025, when it declared itself free of extreme poverty. The state’s high literacy and strong public services are often cited as part of the reason.
Bihar Literacy Rate
| 1951 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2023-24 (PLFS) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bihar | 13.49% | 21.95% | 23.17% | 32.32% | 37.49% | 47% | 63.8% | 74.3% |
Bihar was the least literate state at the 2011 Census, at 63.8%, and it is still one of the lowest in the country. The progress has still been large. In 2001 the state stood at just 47%, and the latest PLFS puts it at 74.3%, a gain of roughly ten points since 2011 and more than 27 points since 2001. Bihar also has one of the widest gender gaps in the country, and the gap between rural literacy (72.1%) and urban literacy (83.2%) is more than 11 points.
The hurdles are familiar. Poverty, social divisions and caste discrimination all affect literacy programmes. Many families cannot afford textbooks and stationery, and children end up working on farms or migrating with their parents. Teacher absenteeism has been a long-running problem in the state’s schools. Bihar also has a very young population, which means the school system has to expand faster than in most states just to keep pace.
For the wider picture of work and income in these states, see our report on unemployment in India, and for the size of the population that literacy programmes have to reach, see our India population statistics report.
Sources: Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023-24 and Annual Report 2025 (National Statistical Office, MoSPI); NSS 75th round, Household Social Consumption: Education (2017-18); Census of India 2001 and 2011; Ministry of Education; Press Information Bureau.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources on the internet. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
