Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both in China
China: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both was 60.67 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in China, 1970–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in China stood at 60.67 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 44.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in China peaked at 60.67 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 108,617, in 1970.
China ranks 1st of 200 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 tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 108,617 | — |
| 1971 | 136,984 | +26.1% |
| 1972 | 165,352 | +20.7% |
| 1973 | 193,719 | +17.2% |
| 1974 | 313,645 | +61.9% |
| 1975 | 429,981 | +37.1% |
| 1976 | 500,993 | +16.5% |
| 1977 | 564,715 | +12.7% |
| 1978 | 625,319 | +10.7% |
| 1979 | 856,322 | +36.9% |
| 1980 | 1.02 million | +19.1% |
| 1981 | 1.66 million | +63.0% |
| 1982 | 1.83 million | +10.2% |
| 1983 | 2.00 million | +9.2% |
| 1984 | 2.17 million | +8.4% |
| 1985 | 2.75 million | +26.6% |
| 1986 | 3.52 million | +28.0% |
| 1987 | 3.84 million | +9.3% |
| 1988 | 3.94 million | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 3.91 million | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 3.92 million | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 3.82 million | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 3.66 million | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 3.70 million | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 4.51 million | +21.8% |
| 1995 | 5.28 million | +17.2% |
| 1996 | 5.62 million | +6.5% |
| 1997 | 5.83 million | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 6.08 million | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 6.37 million | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 7.36 million | +15.7% |
| 2001 | 9.40 million | +27.6% |
| 2002 | 12.14 million | +29.2% |
| 2003 | 15.19 million | +25.1% |
| 2004 | 18.09 million | +19.1% |
| 2005 | 20.60 million | +13.9% |
| 2006 | 23.36 million | +13.4% |
| 2007 | 25.35 million | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 26.69 million | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 29.30 million | +9.8% |
| 2010 | 31.05 million | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 31.31 million | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 32.59 million | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 34.09 million | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 41.92 million | +23.0% |
| 2015 | 43.37 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 43.89 million | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 44.13 million | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 44.94 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 46.99 million | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 50.24 million | +6.9% |
| 2021 | 53.82 million | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 57.14 million | +6.2% |
| 2023 | 59.42 million | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 60.67 million | +2.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 60.67 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 237,490, 255.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 60.67 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 103,347, 587.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 389,565 | 108,617 | 856,322 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.66 million | 1.02 million | 3.94 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.88 million | 3.66 million | 6.37 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.75 million | 7.36 million | 29.30 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.43 million | 31.05 million | 46.99 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.26 million | 50.24 million | 60.67 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in China?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in China was 60.67 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 60.67 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 108,617 in 1970.
- How does China rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
- China ranks 1st out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.