How Many Students Appeared for NEET 2025? Official Data & Analysis
The official data for NEET UG 2025 participating students has been released by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This data helps students and parents understand the level of competition by showing how many candidates actually appeared for the exam on the day of the examination. With competition increasing every year, many aspirants rely on structured NEET online coaching to plan their preparation more strategically.
Here’s the following explanation on the subject and share some official numbers with respect to trend, gender, overall figures by category, and so forth, to finally put the matter to rest for those who wish to enter the field in the future.
How Many Students Appeared for NEET 2025?
About 22,09,318 candidates appeared for NEET 2025, according to NTA’s final result data. This figure is the number of students who actually took the exam, out of the total registered candidates.
Note: Registered means those who filled the forms and were eligible. Appeared means those who attended and appeared in the examination on May 4, 2025. There is a difference between registered and appeared students because many registered students may not appear in the examination due to personal reasons or health problems.
NEET 2025 Overview
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test is a single entrance test for undergraduate medical and dental courses in all Indian medical and dental colleges, including MBBS, BDS, and the allied health programs.
Why participation numbers count:
- They really show how competitive the examination is.
- More interested students usually mean greater competition for limited places.
- This allows aspirants to identify year-on-year trends and prepare accordingly.
It helps in setting realistic expectations for parents and students long before counselling and admissions start by showing them the official attendance figures.
Total Number of Students Appeared for NEET 2025
Out of 22,76,069 students, the number of students who appeared for the exam was about 22,09,318 on May 4, 2025, from the total number of students who had registered for the NEET 2025 exam.
This number provides a clear picture of the number of aspirants who contested for medical and dental courses throughout the country in 2025, a major indicator of how competitive the exams are.
NEET 2025 Registration vs Appearance Statistics
| Statistic | NEET 2025 |
| Registered candidates | 22,76,069 |
| Appeared candidates | 22,09,318 |
| Attendance rate | ~97% |
Nevertheless, not all who try to register manage to sit the test, and some failed the test due to personal reasons. Be that as it may, the number of test-aspirants who showed up this year was substantial and a reflection of their dedication.
Year-Wise Trend of Students Appeared in NEET (2021–2025)
Here’s a quick look at how NEET attendance has changed over recent years:
| Year | Appeared Candidates |
| 2021 | ~15,44,275 |
| 2022 | ~17,64,571 |
| 2023 | ~20,38,596 |
| 2024 | ~23,33,297 |
| 2025 | ~22,09,318 |
Gender-Wise Participation in NEET 2025
Understanding who appeared can help identify broader trends:
| Gender | Appeared (NEET 2025) |
| Male | 9,37,411 |
| Female | 12,71,896 |
| Third Gender | 11 |
Female candidates outnumber their male counterparts in the actual number of attendances throughout 2025, a phenomenon noticed in the recent past. Though low in number, third gender candidates are vital to the process.
Category-Wise Students Appeared for NEET 2025
Here’s a basic breakdown of participation across major categories:
| Category | Appeared (NEET 2025) |
| General / UR | 6,65,853 |
| OBC | 9,25,739 |
| SC | 3,22,538 |
| ST | 1,43,602 |
| EWS | 1,51,586 |
| Total | 22,09,318 |
This data helps understand how competition varies by category and how many seats are effectively contested within each reservation group. Category participation also impacts cut-offs and implementation of seat quotas during counselling.
PwBD & Special Category Participation in NEET 2025
The Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category was another category that took the exam during the year 2025. More than 9,000 applicants took the exam under the category of persons with disabilities, but as was the case in the previous years, the number took the exam, and some were admitted. Inclusion is another trend that is noteworthy.
Nationality-Wise Participation in NEET 2025
Most of the participants in this category are Indian nationals, whereas some of them belong to the NRI, OCI, and foreign national categories, who register and sit for the examination. Although the data for 2025 is still being refined by the NTA, it is widely applicable for all candidates.
What NEET 2025 Participation Numbers Mean for Aspirants
Large attendance figures are indicative of the fact that races remain competitive. Even though many people spend years preparing for these races, knowing how many people are competing for the same position gives one an idea of what to expect:
Competition level: The level of competition is high as the number of appearing candidates is more than 22 lakhs.
Cut-off Impact: The higher the participants, the more stable or increasing cut-offs tend to be, based on the difficulty of the examination. (NEET cut-off 2024)
Preparation focus: Smart planning, discipline, and practice will become the focus, not the length of preparation.
For students targeting MBBS or BDS seats, these numbers underscore the value of focused preparation and strategic planning as compared to hard work per sec.
FAQs on How Many Students Appeared for NEET 2025
Q. 1 How Many Students Appeared for NEET 2025?
About 22,09,318 students appeared for NEET 2025 as per official NTA results.
Q2. Is NEET competition increasing every year?
The tread shows rising participation year-on-year until 2024, with a slight dip in 2025 due to stricter checks and other factors.
Q3. Does higher participation increase NEET cut off?
Generally, higher attendance increases competition, which can influence cut-offs- but exam difficulty also plays a role.
Q4. How does NEET 2025 compare with NEET 2024?
NEET 2024 had slightly more appeared candidates (about 23.33 lakh) compared to 2025’s 22.09 lakh.
Q5. What should aspirants do with rising competition?
Focus on concept-based learning, regular practice, mock test and clear revision plans, quality over quantity makes a difference.
How Tutoroot Helps Aspirants Prepare Smarter
Hard work is not enough when more than 22 lakh students turn up for one exam.
The NEET 2025 numbers starkly depicted how incomprehensively competitive medical entrance has turned out to be. Every mark counts. Every concept counts.
This is where smart preparation makes a difference.
It helps aspirants focus on clarity, consistency, and relevance towards the examination. Rather than doing the syllabus in a rush, students learn concepts deep inside, practice with a purpose, and fix the weak areas as early as possible. Regular feedback ensures no topic is left half-understood.
Personalized guidance through online tuition classes gives students flexibility in learning at their own pace while maintaining much-required discipline for exams. The doubts will be sorted on time, the revision will be sorted in a particular manner, and the preparation will go hand-in-hand with NEET requirements.
Ready to prepare smarter, not harder?
Schedule a free academic discussion and take the first confident step towards NEET success.