Gross Enrolment Ratio

The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) shows the total enrolment at a specified level of education relative to the population of the age group officially associated with that level. It includes enrolled students of all ages, not merely those within the official age group.

Method of calculation

GER is calculated as: total enrolment at the specified educational level, irrespective of age, divided by the population in the official age group corresponding to that level, multiplied by 100.

• If 1.2 million students are enrolled at a level whose corresponding age-group population is 1 million, the GER is 120 per cent.
• For Indian higher education statistics, the usual corresponding age group is 18-23 years.

How to interpret the ratio

GER measures the education system's overall capacity to enrol students relative to the relevant population, but it is not the percentage of correctly aged children or youth who are enrolled.

• GER may exceed 100 per cent because the numerator includes over-age and under-age students, including those affected by early or late entry and repetition.
• Unlike GER, the Net Enrolment Ratio counts only enrolled students belonging to the official age group for that educational level.
• GER does not by itself measure attendance, completion, educational quality or learning outcomes.