Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh is second lowest among all states in the country in terms of literacy percentage. Only Bihar is worse than the MP.
Among 5-plus residents of the state 73.7% are literate. In this respect only, Bihar (73.2 %) has a lower literacy rate, while the national Average of 5-plus literate stands at 79.7%.
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report (July 2023-June 2024), released by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Government of India, MP is also among the bottom two in terms of literacy among persons aged seven years or more. The literacy percentage of such persons in the state is 75.2 as against the national average of 80.9.
Only Bihar (74.3%) is below Madhya Pradesh in this respect. The gender divide with regard to literacy is very wide in MP. While 80.1% of 7-plus males are literate in the state, the percentage of literate women of the same age group is just 67. Similarly, the literacy percentage among 5-plus residents is 81.2 for males and 65.8 for females.
The survey defines as literate a person who can both read and write a simple message while understanding it in at least one language.
Among the 15 years and above male residents of Madhya Pradesh (rural and urban) 19.6% are illiterate, 17.1% have studied up to primary school and 28.6% have passed middle school. Just 10.7% of the males in the state have passed the higher secondary exam, 9.4% are graduates and 3.1% are post graduates and above.
Among the 15 years and above female residents of Madhya Pradesh (rural and urban) 38.6% are illiterate, 15.1% have studied up to primary school and 21.5% have passed middle school. Just 8.3% of the females in the state have passed the higher secondary exam, 6.9% are graduates and 2.3 % are post graduates and above.
