India’s literacy rate was 14% at independence, but it has risen with more people now getting good education.
They found that overall literacy was at approximately 76.32 percent in 2022, yet the literature omits many factors since state-wise literacy rates vary greatly.
On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Chief Minister Lalduhoma of Mizoram announced that all residents have reached full literacy status which means the state has reached the 95% literacy rate set by the Ministry of Education.
The third-highest literacy rate in India was found in Mizoram, with 91.33% in 2011 Census. As per a recent government press release, that number has soared to 98.2% now.
Andhra Pradesh and Bihar had the most illiterate populations in India, with just 72.6% and 74.3% literacy rates across the country, urban and rural areas combined.
80.9% of Indians aged 7 and above, both men and women living in rural and urban areas are literate.
A good literacy rate is an important way to measure a country’s opportunities for growth in education and the development of new ideas and according to the Office of the Registrar General of India, literacy is defined as being able to read and write in any language at age 7 or older. In a developing country like India, it is highly efficient to have minimum literacy rates.
Top 10 states/UTs in India with the highest literacy rates in 2024
| S.No. | State/UT | Total 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% |
| 6 | Chandigarh | 93.7% |
| 8 | Goa | 93.6% |
| 9 | Puducherry | 92.7% |
| 10 | Manipur | 92% |
Data source: MoSPI PLFS 2023–24, (Men and Women, 7 years and above, Rural + Urban literacy rate combined)
Bottom 10 states/UTs in India with the lowest literacy rates in 2024
| S.No. | State/UT | Total Literacy Rate |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 72.6% |
| 2 | Bihar | 74.3% |
| 3 | Madhya Pradesh | 75.2% |
| 4 | Rajasthan | 75.8% |
| 5 | Jharkhand | 76.7% |
| 6 | Telangana | 76.9% |
| 7 | Uttar Pradesh | 78.2% |
| 8 | Chhattisgarh | 78.5% |
| 9 | Ladakh | 81% |
| 10 | Jammu & Kashmir | 82% |
Data source: MoSPI PLFS 2023–24, (Men and Women, 7 years and above, Rural + Urban literacy rate combined)
For more updates follow: Latest News on NEWZZY
