China vs Japan: Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years)
China
3 years
in 2025
Japan
3 years
in 2025
China rank
91st
Japan rank
91st
Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) over time
- China
- Japan
How they compare
China currently reports 3 years against 3 years in Japan, a difference of 0 years.
Across all 56 years both countries report, Japan has been ahead every year.
China ranks 91st and Japan ranks 91st of 221 countries.
Japan has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Japan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.3 years | 3 years | 0.7 years | Japan |
| 1980s | 3 years | 3 years | 0 years | — |
| 1990s | 3 years | 3 years | 0 years | — |
| 2000s | 3 years | 3 years | 0 years | — |
| 2010s | 3 years | 3 years | 0 years | — |
| 2020s | 3 years | 3 years | 0 years | — |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher theoretical duration of lower secondary education, China or Japan?
- China, at 3 years against 3 years in Japan as of 2025.
- What is the difference in theoretical duration of lower secondary education between China and Japan?
- 0 years, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Japan?
- 56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
- How do China and Japan rank globally for theoretical duration of lower secondary education?
- China ranks 91st and Japan ranks 91st of 221 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
February 2026 Data Release