Top 10 Indian states/UTs with highest and lowest literacy rates: Mizoram becomes 1st ‘fully literate' state
Literacy Rates of Indian States Full List: India's literacy rate was only 14% at the time of independence, which has increased over the years as more people have received better education.
Statista indicates that the country achieved an approximately 76.32 per cent literacy rate in 2022; however, data still falls short of being comprehensive, as there are significant disparities in literacy rates across different states.
On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Mizoram's Chief Minister Lalduhoma declared that the state has achieved 'full literacy' status, surpassing the 95% literacy rate threshold set by the Ministry of Education.
Ranked as the third most literate state in India, with a 91.33% literacy rate according to the 2011 Census, Mizoram has recently achieved 98.2%, according to the government statement.
Contrastingly, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar recorded the lowest literacy rates in India, standing at 72.6% and 74.3% respectively, for both urban and rural populations, according to the PLFS 2023-24 MoSPI survey.
The total literacy rate of India, including all individuals (men and women), aged 7 and above, from rural and urban populations, accounts for 80.9% fn the period 2023-24.
To identify potential for intellectual and educational progress, the literacy rate is a crucial indicator of a country's economic progress; according to the Office of the Registrar General of India, a person aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding in any language is considered literate.
Data source: MoSPI PLFS 2023–24, (Men and Women, 7 years and above, Rural + Urban combined)
Data source: MoSPI PLFS 2023–24, (Men and Women, 7 years and above, Rural + Urban combined)
Cherry Gupta is an Assistant Manager - Content at The Indian Express. She is responsible for crafting compelling narratives, uncovering the latest news and developments, and driving engaging content based on data and trends to boost website traffic and audience engagement. One can connect with her on LinkedIn or by mail at cherry.gupta@indianexpress.com. ... Read More
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