Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in China
China: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes was 96.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in China, 1982–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 96.7% for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in 2020. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in China peaked at 96.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 65.5%, in 1982.
That places China 25th out of 89 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 65.5% | — |
| 1990 | 77.8% | +18.7% |
| 2000 | 90.9% | +16.9% |
| 2010 | 95.1% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 96.7% | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 65.5% | 65.5% | 65.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 77.8% | 77.8% | 77.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 90.9% | 90.9% | 90.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 95.1% | 95.1% | 95.1% | 1 |
| 2020s | 96.7% | 96.7% | 96.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 22 Oman 97.3% compare
- 23 Türkiye 97.3% compare
- 24 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 97.2% compare
- 26 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 96.7% compare
- 27 Macau, China 96.5% compare
- 28 Kuwait 96.5% compare
More education data for China
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0771 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in China?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in China was 96.7% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 96.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.5% in 1982.
- How does China rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes?
- China ranks 25th out of 89 countries with data for 2020.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release