Literacy Rate in India 2025: State-Wise Insights

As citizens of India, understanding the nation’s literacy rate is essential for tracking social progress and identifying areas that require focused attention.

In 2025, India has achieved notable improvements in literacy, but significant disparities persist across states, union territories, and between genders.

India’s Literacy Rate in 2025:

According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS 2023–24), India’s overall literacy rate has climbed to 80.9% for individuals aged seven and above, reflecting steady gains over recent years.

The male literacy rate stands at 86.5%, while the female literacy rate is 75.3%, underscoring a persistent but narrowing gender gap. These figures mark a substantial improvement from the 2011 Census literacy rate of 74.04% and the 2021 estimate of 77.7%.

Key Highlights:

Category	Statistic / State
National Literacy Rate	80.9%
Male Literacy Rate	86.5%
Female Literacy Rate	75.3%
Most Literate State	Mizoram (98.2%) – India’s first ‘fully literate’ state
Least Literate State	Andhra Pradesh (72.6%)

Top Five Most Literate States/UTs (2025):

State/UT	Literacy Rate (%)
Mizoram	98.2
Lakshadweep	97.3
Nagaland	95.7
Kerala	95.3
Meghalaya	94.2

Bottom Five Least Literate States/UTs (2025):

State/UT	Literacy Rate (%)
Andhra Pradesh	72.6
Bihar	74.3
Madhya Pradesh	75.2
Rajasthan	75.8
Jharkhand	76.7

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State-Wise Literacy Data Table (2025):

S.No.	State / UT	Literacy Rate (%)
1	Mizoram	98.2
2	Lakshadweep	97.3
3	Nagaland	95.7
4	Kerala	95.3
5	Meghalaya	94.2
6	Tripura	93.7
7	Chandigarh	93.7
8	Goa	93.6
9	Puducherry	92.7
10	Manipur	92.0
11	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	88.5
12	Daman and Diu	89.4
13	Delhi	88.7
14	Himachal Pradesh	86.6
15	Assam	85.9
16	Maharashtra	84.8
17	Gujarat	82.4
18	Punjab	82.3
19	Sikkim	83.5
20	Tamil Nadu	82.9
21	Nagaland*	81.2
22	Manipur*	79.6
23	Meghalaya*	77.4
24	West Bengal	76.3
25	Chhattisgarh	75.3
26	Jharkhand	76.7
27	Madhya Pradesh	75.2
28	Rajasthan	75.8
29	Bihar	74.3
30	Jammu and Kashmir	73.4
31	Arunachal Pradesh	69.2
32	Uttarakhand	78.8
33	Uttar Pradesh	78.2
34	Telangana	76.9
35	Andhra Pradesh	72.6

Mizoram’s achievement as the first ‘fully literate’ state is a testament to the success of targeted literacy campaigns, community involvement, and the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.

Government Initiatives for Improving Literacy

To address these challenges, the Indian government has implemented several programs aimed at improving literacy levels across the country:

1. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: Focuses on universalizing elementary education.
2. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Promotes girl child education.
3. Samagra Shiksha: Integrates school education from pre-primary to senior secondary levels.
4. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Aims for universal foundational literacy by focusing on early childhood care and education.

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FAQs About Literacy in India

India has come a long way in improving its literacy rates but still has miles to go before achieving universal education for all its citizens

By addressing disparities and strengthening government initiatives, we can work toward building a more literate and empowered nation by the next decade!