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State-wise Literacy Rate in India 2025: Who Leads and Who Lags?

Sep 08, 2025

Aakanksha Singh

India's journey in literacy has been remarkable, rising from just 14% at independence to around 80.9% in 2025 for people aged 7 and above. However, literacy rates vary widely across states and union territories, revealing pockets of excellence as well as challenges.

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1. Mizoram – 98.2% – Declared the first “fully literate” state after surpassing the 95% literacy threshold

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2. Lakshadweep – 97.3%

Top 5 States/UTs with Highest Literacy Rates

3. Nagaland – 95.7%

4. Kerala – 95.3% Known for its consistently high literacy and excellent education systems

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5. Meghalaya – 94.2%

Other literacy leaders include Tripura (93.7%), Chandigarh (93.7%), Goa (93.6%), Puducherry (92.7%), and Manipur (92%).

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 Andhra Pradesh – 72.6%

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Bihar – 74.3%

States/UTs with the Lowest Literacy Rates

Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh also are below the national average, with literacy rates mostly between 72% and 77%.

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 The overall literacy rate of India continues to rise, boosted by government programmes and increasing awareness.

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 States with higher literacy rates generally show better socio-economic indicators and quality of life.

Literacy Rate Trends

 Bridging literacy gaps remains critical for inclusive growth, especially in states lagging behind.

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Literacy empowers individuals with knowledge and skills. It drives economic progress, health awareness, and social development. Education reforms and targeted initiatives are key to improving the literacy landscape nationwide.

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Why Literacy Matters

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