China vs India: Secondary education, pupils
China
97.98 million
in 2024
India
133.16 million
in 2025
China rank
2nd
India rank
1st
Secondary education, pupils over time
- China
- India
How they compare
India currently reports 133.16 million against 97.98 million in China, a difference of 35.17 million.
That makes India's figure about 1.4 times China's.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 45 shared years of data; in 1971 it was China ahead.
China ranks 2nd and India ranks 1st of 206 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 3 and India in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | India | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 43.46 million | 24.15 million | 19.30 million | China |
| 1980s | 52.84 million | 39.87 million | 12.97 million | China |
| 1990s | 63.18 million | 65.69 million | 2.51 million | India |
| 2000s | 94.90 million | 86.40 million | 8.51 million | China |
| 2010s | 89.61 million | 124.36 million | 34.75 million | India |
| 2020s | 93.44 million | 135.49 million | 42.04 million | India |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher secondary education, pupils, China or India?
- India, at 133.16 million against 97.98 million in China as of 2025.
- What is the difference in secondary education, pupils between China and India?
- 35.17 million, with India ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and India?
- 45 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2024.
- How do China and India rank globally for secondary education, pupils?
- China ranks 2nd and India ranks 1st of 206 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Secondary education, pupils. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.