Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in China
China: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary was 72.4% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in China, 1982–2020
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
China recorded 72.4% for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in 2020. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in China peaked at 72.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 22.8%, in 1982.
China ranks 67th of 134 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in China, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 22.8% | — |
| 1990 | 36.4% | +59.7% |
| 2000 | 52.3% | +43.6% |
| 2010 | 65.3% | +25.0% |
| 2020 | 72.4% | +10.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.8% | 22.8% | 22.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 36.4% | 36.4% | 36.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 52.3% | 52.3% | 52.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 65.3% | 65.3% | 65.3% | 1 |
| 2020s | 72.4% | 72.4% | 72.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 64 Namibia 76.8% compare
- 65 Qatar 73.7% compare
- 66 Macau, China 73.3% compare
- 68 Trinidad and Tobago 71.9% compare
- 69 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 70.9% compare
- 70 Palestine, State of 69.5% compare
More education data for China
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 6.74 million (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 15.4% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 99.64 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 99.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in China?
- Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in China was 72.4% in 2020, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.8% in 1982.
- How does China rank for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary?
- China ranks 67th out of 134 countries with data for 2020.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. 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 Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed lower secondary education.