Enrolment in primary education, female (number) (primary female) in China
China: Enrolment in primary education, female (number) (primary female) was 51.02 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
51.02 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
2nd
of 216 countries
All-time high
68.24 million
in 1976
All-time low
43.40 million
in 2014
Years of data
45
1974–2024
Enrolment in primary education, female in China, 1974–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
China recorded 51.02 million for enrolment in primary education, female in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, female in China peaked at 68.24 million in 1976 and was at its lowest, 43.40 million, in 2014.
That places China 2nd out of 216 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, female (number) (primary female) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 55.27 million | — |
| 1975 | 63.31 million | +14.5% |
| 1976 | 68.24 million | +7.8% |
| 1977 | 68.23 million | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 66.32 million | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 65.70 million | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 65.77 million | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 65.17 million | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 63.01 million | -3.3% |
| 1983 | 61.00 million | -3.2% |
| 1984 | 59.37 million | -2.7% |
| 1985 | 59.38 million | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 59.86 million | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 59.50 million | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 58.22 million | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 57.16 million | -1.8% |
| 1990 | 56.77 million | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 56.56 million | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 56.55 million | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 56.86 million | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 58.16 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 60.35 million | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 62.41 million | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 64.67 million | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 66.66 million | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 61.95 million | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 50.96 million | -17.7% |
| 2007 | 50.08 million | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 49.23 million | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 48.03 million | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 46.71 million | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 46.05 million | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 45.99 million | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 44.95 million | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 43.40 million | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 43.82 million | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 45.02 million | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 46.09 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 46.95 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 48.16 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 49.24 million | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 50.12 million | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 50.44 million | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 50.36 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 51.02 million | +1.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 51.02 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 248,836, 205.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 51.02 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 114,474, 445.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 64.51 million | 55.27 million | 68.24 million | 6 |
| 1980s | 60.84 million | 57.16 million | 65.77 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 59.89 million | 56.55 million | 66.66 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 52.05 million | 48.03 million | 61.95 million | 5 |
| 2010s | 45.71 million | 43.40 million | 48.16 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.24 million | 49.24 million | 51.02 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 primary education, female in China?
- Enrolment in primary education, female in China was 51.02 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, female recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 68.24 million in 1976.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, female recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.40 million in 2014.
- How does China rank for enrolment in primary education, female?
- China ranks 2nd out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, female rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release