PopulationConnectSangam
India’s literacy gender gap, explained
Source: Census of India / NFHS · Last updated July 2026
Male literacy
84.7%
Female literacy
70.3%
India’s overall literacy rate is 77.7%, but it hides a wide gender gap. Male literacy stands at 84.7%, while female literacy is 70.3% — a gap of roughly 14 percentage points.
How the gap varies by state
Kerala~4 pts gap
Maharashtra~10 pts gap
Rajasthan~20 pts gap
Bihar~19 pts gap
Why it matters
- Workforce participation: Female literacy is closely linked to female labour force participation
- Child outcomes: Educated mothers have healthier children and lower child mortality
- Income: Each additional year of schooling raises lifetime earnings
📚 Key insight: The gap has narrowed over the last two decades. In 2001, female literacy was 53.7% vs male 75.3% — a gap of 21.6 points. Today it’s closer to 14 points.
Source
Census of India; National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5 and NFHS-6). Figures reflect the most recent data available as of July 2026.