Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in China
China: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 46.99 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
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.
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
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 6.74 million (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 15.4% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 99.64 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 99.6% (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
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.