Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in China
China: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes was 26.02 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in China, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in China stood at 26.02 million.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 45.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in China peaked at 26.10 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.21 million, in 1999.
That places China 1st out of 149 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 3.21 million | — |
| 2000 | 3.50 million | +8.8% |
| 2001 | 4.24 million | +21.2% |
| 2002 | 5.43 million | +28.1% |
| 2003 | 7.36 million | +35.6% |
| 2004 | 8.86 million | +20.4% |
| 2005 | 9.68 million | +9.2% |
| 2006 | 10.83 million | +11.9% |
| 2007 | 11.49 million | +6.1% |
| 2008 | 11.89 million | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 13.04 million | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 13.76 million | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 13.40 million | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 13.47 million | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 13.90 million | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 17.94 million | +29.0% |
| 2015 | 18.49 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 18.66 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 18.63 million | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 19.09 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 20.10 million | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 22.14 million | +10.2% |
| 2021 | 24.04 million | +8.6% |
| 2022 | 25.46 million | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 26.10 million | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 26.02 million | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.21 million | 3.21 million | 3.21 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 8.63 million | 3.50 million | 13.04 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.74 million | 13.40 million | 20.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.75 million | 22.14 million | 26.10 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 2 United States of America 6.00 million compare
- 3 Russian Federation 3.26 million compare
- 4 Türkiye 2.65 million compare
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, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in China?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in China was 26.02 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 26.10 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.21 million in 1999.
- How does China rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes?
- China ranks 1st out of 149 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.1%. 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 tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release