China vs India: School age population, primary education, both sexes

China
102.98 million number
in 2020
India
121.82 million number
in 2020
China rank
2nd
India rank
1st

School age population, primary education, both sexes over time

  • China
  • India
050.0M100.0M150.0M197019952020

How they compare

India currently reports 121.82 million number against 102.98 million number in China, a difference of 18.84 million number.

That makes India's figure about 1.2 times China's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 51 shared years of data; in 1970 it was China ahead.

China ranks 2nd and India ranks 1st of 206 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and India in 4.

Head to head by decade

Decade China India Difference Ahead
1970s 115.77 million number 77.79 million number 37.98 million number China
1980s 117.09 million number 94.67 million number 22.43 million number China
1990s 113.58 million number 114.43 million number 843,030 number India
2000s 109.08 million number 123.41 million number 14.34 million number India
2010s 100.59 million number 126.83 million number 26.25 million number India
2020s 102.98 million number 121.82 million number 18.84 million number India

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher school age population, primary education, both sexes, China or India?
India, at 121.82 million number against 102.98 million number in China as of 2020.
What is the difference in school age population, primary education, both sexes between China and India?
18.84 million number, with India ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and India?
51 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2020.
How do China and India rank globally for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
China ranks 2nd and India ranks 1st of 206 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as School age population, primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs India: School age population, primary education, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/school-age-population-primary-education-both-sexes-number/china/india/

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About this data

Indicator
School age population, primary education, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
251 places, 12,277 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

Population of the age-group theoretically corresponding to primary education as indicated by theoretical entrance age and duration.