Enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes in China
China: Enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes was 40.93 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes in China, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes in China stood at 40.93 million.
That represents a change of down 11.6% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes in China peaked at 48.19 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 20.22 million, in 2002.
That places China 1st out of 180 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 24.03 million | — |
| 2000 | 23.26 million | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 22.44 million | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 20.22 million | -9.9% |
| 2003 | 20.36 million | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 21.79 million | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 22.64 million | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 23.49 million | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 24.75 million | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 26.58 million | +7.4% |
| 2011 | 29.77 million | +12.0% |
| 2012 | 34.24 million | +15.0% |
| 2013 | 36.86 million | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 38.95 million | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 40.51 million | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 42.65 million | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 44.14 million | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 46.00 million | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 46.56 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 47.14 million | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 48.19 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 48.06 million | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 46.28 million | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 40.93 million | -11.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.03 million | 24.03 million | 24.03 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 22.37 million | 20.22 million | 24.75 million | 8 |
| 2010s | 38.63 million | 26.58 million | 46.56 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.12 million | 40.93 million | 48.19 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
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 enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes in China?
- Enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes in China was 40.93 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 48.19 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.22 million in 2002.
- How does China rank for enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes?
- China ranks 1st out of 180 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. 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 Enrolment in early childhood education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release