Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in China
China: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 46.99 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
46.99 million number
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
1st
of 193 countries
All-time high
46.99 million number
in 2019
All-time low
108,617 number
in 1970
Years of data
46
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in China, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
China recorded 46.99 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2019. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 60.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in China peaked at 46.99 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 108,617 number, in 1970.
That places China 1st out of 193 countries with data for 2019, putting it 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 | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 108,617 number | — |
| 1973 | 193,719 number | +78.4% |
| 1974 | 313,645 number | +61.9% |
| 1975 | 429,981 number | +37.1% |
| 1976 | 500,993 number | +16.5% |
| 1977 | 564,715 number | +12.7% |
| 1978 | 625,319 number | +10.7% |
| 1979 | 856,322 number | +36.9% |
| 1980 | 1.02 million number | +19.1% |
| 1981 | 1.66 million number | +63.0% |
| 1984 | 2.17 million number | +30.5% |
| 1985 | 2.75 million number | +26.6% |
| 1986 | 3.52 million number | +28.0% |
| 1987 | 3.84 million number | +9.3% |
| 1988 | 3.94 million number | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 3.91 million number | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 3.92 million number | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 3.82 million number | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 3.66 million number | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 3.70 million number | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 4.51 million number | +21.8% |
| 1995 | 5.28 million number | +17.2% |
| 1996 | 5.62 million number | +6.5% |
| 1997 | 5.83 million number | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 6.08 million number | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 6.37 million number | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 7.36 million number | +15.7% |
| 2001 | 9.40 million number | +27.6% |
| 2002 | 12.14 million number | +29.2% |
| 2003 | 15.19 million number | +25.1% |
| 2004 | 18.09 million number | +19.1% |
| 2005 | 20.60 million number | +13.9% |
| 2006 | 23.36 million number | +13.4% |
| 2007 | 25.35 million number | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 26.69 million number | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 29.30 million number | +9.8% |
| 2010 | 31.05 million number | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 31.31 million number | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 32.59 million number | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 34.09 million number | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 41.92 million number | +23.0% |
| 2015 | 43.37 million number | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 43.89 million number | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 44.13 million number | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 44.94 million number | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 46.99 million number | +4.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 46.99 million number is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 225,211 number, 208.7× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 46.99 million number is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 176,648 number, 266.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 449,164 number | 108,617 number | 856,322 number | 8 |
| 1980s | 2.85 million number | 1.02 million number | 3.94 million number | 8 |
| 1990s | 4.88 million number | 3.66 million number | 6.37 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.75 million number | 7.36 million number | 29.30 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.43 million number | 31.05 million number | 46.99 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 93.37 (1997)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 93.32 (1997)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in China?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in China was 46.99 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 46.99 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 108,617 number in 1970.
- How does China rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- China ranks 1st out of 193 countries with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.4%. 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.