Children out of school in China

China: Children out of school was 6.7% in 1997. ▲ Rising

Latest (1997)
6.7%
Change on year
down 15.8%
World rank
69th
of 196 countries
All-time high
10.0%
in 1994
All-time low
2.8%
in 1988
Years of data
11
1987–1997

Children out of school in China, 1987–1997

2468101987199219971987: 3.9 % of primary school age1988: 2.8 % of primary school age1989: 4.6 % of primary school age1990: 7.7 % of primary school age1991: 8.3 % of primary school age1992: 9.4 % of primary school age1993: 9.8 % of primary school age1994: 10 % of primary school age1995: 8.8 % of primary school age1996: 7.9 % of primary school age1997: 6.7 % of primary school age

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of primary school age.

Analysis

In 1997, children out of school in China stood at 6.7%.

That represents a change of down 15.8% on the previous year and up 71.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, children out of school in China peaked at 10.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 1988.

That places China 69th out of 196 countries with data for 1997, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Children out of school in China, year by year

Annual values for Children out of school (% of primary school age) in China, 1987 to 1997.
Year % of primary school age Change
1987 3.9%
1988 2.8% -27.7%
1989 4.6% +63.3%
1990 7.7% +67.0%
1991 8.3% +8.2%
1992 9.4% +13.4%
1993 9.8% +3.9%
1994 10.0% +1.5%
1995 8.8% -11.6%
1996 7.9% -9.9%
1997 6.7% -15.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 3.8% 2.8% 4.6% 3
1990s 8.6% 6.7% 10.0% 8

Countries ranked near China

  1. 66 Saint Lucia 7.0% compare
  2. 67 Timor-Leste 6.9%
  3. 68 Seychelles 6.8% compare
  4. 70 Nicaragua 6.7% compare
  5. 71 Naoero 6.6%
  6. 72 Georgia 6.2%

See the full ranking of 201 places →

More education data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is children out of school in China?
Children out of school in China was 6.7% in 1997, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest children out of school recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 10.0% in 1994.
What is the lowest children out of school recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 1988.
How does China rank for children out of school?
China ranks 69th out of 196 countries with data for 1997.
Is children out of school rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 71.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Children out of school (% of primary school age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Children out of school in China. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/children-out-of-school-percent-of-primary-school-age/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Children out of school (% of primary school age)
Unit
% of primary school age
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
201 places, 4,722 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Children out of school are the percentage of primary-school-age children who are not enrolled in primary or secondary school. Children in the official primary age group that are in preprimary education should be considered out of school.