Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in China
China: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 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, both sexes (number) 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% |
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
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 52.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 40.93 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -11.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
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.