Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in China
China: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 40.93 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
40.93 million
Change on year
down 11.6%
World rank
1st
of 214 countries
All-time high
48.19 million
in 2021
All-time low
2.45 million
in 1974
Years of data
49
1974–2024
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in China, 1974–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
China recorded 40.93 million for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is down 11.6% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in China peaked at 48.19 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.45 million, in 1974.
China ranks 1st of 214 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 2.45 million | — |
| 1975 | 2.64 million | +7.7% |
| 1976 | 6.20 million | +135.0% |
| 1977 | 13.96 million | +125.1% |
| 1978 | 8.97 million | -35.7% |
| 1979 | 7.88 million | -12.2% |
| 1980 | 8.79 million | +11.6% |
| 1981 | 11.51 million | +30.9% |
| 1982 | 10.56 million | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 11.13 million | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 11.40 million | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 12.95 million | +13.5% |
| 1986 | 14.80 million | +14.3% |
| 1987 | 16.29 million | +10.1% |
| 1988 | 18.08 million | +11.0% |
| 1989 | 18.55 million | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 18.48 million | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 19.72 million | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 22.09 million | +12.0% |
| 1993 | 24.28 million | +9.9% |
| 1994 | 25.53 million | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 26.30 million | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 27.11 million | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 26.66 million | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 25.19 million | -5.5% |
| 1999 | 24.03 million | -4.6% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.01 million | 2.45 million | 13.96 million | 6 |
| 1980s | 13.41 million | 8.79 million | 18.55 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.94 million | 18.48 million | 27.11 million | 10 |
| 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
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 5.02 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.72 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 30.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 30.48 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in China?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in China was 40.93 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 48.19 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.45 million in 1974.
- How does China rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- China ranks 1st out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary 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 volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release