Times of Better Bharat

India, measured — every morning · est. 2026

Learning poverty

Children who cannot read and understand a simple text by about age ten, counting those out of school. India's single estimate predates the pandemic, which closed schools for longer than almost anywhere.

Position from worst
56.07
2017
Published by
World Bank / UNESCO
irregular

Compared with

Japan
3.6%
United States
9.7%
Sri Lanka
14.8%
Germany
15.4%
Vietnam
18.1%
China
18.2%
Brazil
46.9%
Bangladesh
51.2%
Indonesia
52.8%
India
56.1%
Pakistan
79.5%
South Africa
82.0%
Latest available year for each country · % of 10-year-olds · lower is better

Source

World Bank / UNESCO — https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.LPV.PRIM