Average years of schooling, males vs. females in China
China: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 8.27 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in China, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
China recorded 8.27 years for average years of schooling, males vs. females in 2023.
That represents a change of up 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in China peaked at 8.67 years in 2018 and was at its lowest, 4.51 years, in 1990.
That places China 128th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in China, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.51 years | — |
| 1991 | 4.73 years | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 4.94 years | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 5.16 years | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 5.38 years | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 5.59 years | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 5.81 years | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 6.02 years | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 6.24 years | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 6.45 years | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 6.67 years | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 6.75 years | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 6.83 years | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 6.91 years | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 6.99 years | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 7.08 years | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 7.16 years | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 7.24 years | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 7.32 years | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 7.4 years | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 7.48 years | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 7.63 years | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 7.78 years | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 7.93 years | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 8.08 years | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 8.22 years | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 8.37 years | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 8.52 years | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 8.67 years | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 8.47 years | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 8.26 years | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 8.27 years | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 8.27 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8.27 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.48 years | 4.51 years | 6.45 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.03 years | 6.67 years | 7.4 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.11 years | 7.48 years | 8.67 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.27 years | 8.26 years | 8.27 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 51.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0362 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 57.54 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.6464 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0408 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.74 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.2971 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in China?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in China was 8.27 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 8.67 years in 2018.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.51 years in 1990.
- How does China rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- China ranks 128th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) men over 25 years participated in formal education.