China vs World: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

China
46.99 million number
in 2019
World
227.56 million number
in 2019
China rank
1st
World rank
1st

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes over time

  • China
  • World
050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M250.0M197019942019

How they compare

World currently reports 227.56 million number against 46.99 million number in China, a difference of 180.56 million number.

That makes World's figure about 4.8 times China's.

Across all 46 years both countries report, World has been ahead every year.

China ranks 1st and World ranks 1st of 193 countries.

World has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade China World Difference Ahead
1970s 449,164 number 41.84 million number 41.39 million number World
1980s 2.85 million number 59.77 million number 56.92 million number World
1990s 4.88 million number 78.75 million number 73.88 million number World
2000s 18.75 million number 136.48 million number 117.73 million number World
2010s 39.43 million number 209.95 million number 170.52 million number World

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, China or World?
World, at 227.56 million number against 46.99 million number in China as of 2019.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between China and World?
180.56 million number, with World ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and World?
46 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2019.
How do China and World rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
China ranks 1st and World ranks 1st of 193 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs World: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/china/world/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
238 places, 8,058 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.