Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in China
China: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) was 97.98 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
97.98 million
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
2nd
of 219 countries
All-time high
101.83 million
in 2007
All-time low
20.25 million
in 1970
Years of data
52
1970–2024
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in China, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in China stood at 97.98 million.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in China peaked at 101.83 million in 2007 and was at its lowest, 20.25 million, in 1970.
That places China 2nd out of 219 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 20.25 million | — |
| 1971 | 26.48 million | +30.8% |
| 1972 | 31.49 million | +18.9% |
| 1973 | 36.17 million | +14.8% |
| 1974 | 34.95 million | -3.4% |
| 1975 | 37.14 million | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 45.37 million | +22.2% |
| 1977 | 59.06 million | +30.2% |
| 1978 | 68.49 million | +16.0% |
| 1979 | 66.37 million | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 60.25 million | -9.2% |
| 1981 | 56.78 million | -5.8% |
| 1982 | 50.15 million | -11.7% |
| 1983 | 47.03 million | -6.2% |
| 1984 | 46.87 million | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 49.24 million | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 51.66 million | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 54.11 million | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 55.06 million | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 53.62 million | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 51.80 million | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 52.39 million | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 53.69 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 55.10 million | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 55.55 million | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 58.94 million | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 63.80 million | +8.2% |
| 1997 | 68.28 million | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 77.44 million | +13.4% |
| 2000 | 81.49 million | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 86.52 million | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 90.72 million | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 95.62 million | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 101.19 million | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 101.83 million | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 101.45 million | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 100.39 million | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 99.22 million | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 97.45 million | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 95.00 million | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 93.69 million | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 88.21 million | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 85.66 million | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 83.62 million | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 83.13 million | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 84.19 million | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 85.95 million | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 88.31 million | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 90.87 million | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 93.74 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 96.32 million | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 97.98 million | +1.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 97.98 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 524,692, 186.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 97.98 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 162,113, 604.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 42.58 million | 20.25 million | 68.49 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 52.48 million | 46.87 million | 60.25 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 59.66 million | 51.80 million | 77.44 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 94.90 million | 81.49 million | 101.83 million | 8 |
| 2010s | 89.61 million | 83.13 million | 99.22 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 93.44 million | 88.31 million | 97.98 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 secondary education, both sexes in China?
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in China was 97.98 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 101.83 million in 2007.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.25 million in 1970.
- How does China rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
- China ranks 2nd out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. 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 secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release