diff --git a/book/src/editor.md b/book/src/editor.md
index b79792058..c2a7af764 100644
--- a/book/src/editor.md
+++ b/book/src/editor.md
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ The following statusline elements can be configured:
 | `file-type` | The type of the opened file |
 | `diagnostics` | The number of warnings and/or errors |
 | `workspace-diagnostics` | The number of warnings and/or errors on workspace |
-| `selections` | The number of active selections |
+| `selections` | The primary selection index out of the number of active selections |
 | `primary-selection-length` | The number of characters currently in primary selection |
 | `position` | The cursor position |
 | `position-percentage` | The cursor position as a percentage of the total number of lines |
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
index 4d4b9f2fe..df23123c5 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/statusline.rs
@@ -332,10 +332,15 @@ fn render_selections<'a, F>(context: &mut RenderContext<'a>, write: F)
 where
     F: Fn(&mut RenderContext<'a>, Span<'a>) + Copy,
 {
-    let count = context.doc.selection(context.view.id).len();
+    let selection = context.doc.selection(context.view.id);
+    let count = selection.len();
     write(
         context,
-        format!(" {} sel{} ", count, if count == 1 { "" } else { "s" }).into(),
+        if count == 1 {
+            " 1 sel ".into()
+        } else {
+            format!(" {}/{count} sels ", selection.primary_index() + 1).into()
+        },
     );
 }