Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in China
China: Expected years of schooling, males vs. females was 15.07 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in China, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expected years of schooling, males vs. females in China is 15.07 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expected years of schooling, males vs. females in China peaked at 15.07 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.61 years, in 1992.
China ranks 57th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in China, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10.21 years | — |
| 1991 | 9.93 years | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 8.61 years | -13.3% |
| 1993 | 8.82 years | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 9.04 years | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 9.27 years | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 9.51 years | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 9.74 years | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 9.98 years | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 10.21 years | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 10.44 years | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 10.68 years | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 10.91 years | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 11.15 years | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 11.38 years | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 11.47 years | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 11.85 years | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 12.13 years | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 12.41 years | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 12.69 years | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 12.94 years | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 13.02 years | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 13.11 years | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 13.31 years | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 13.52 years | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 13.73 years | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 13.95 years | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 14.16 years | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 14.38 years | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 14.61 years | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 14.84 years | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 15.07 years | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 15.07 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 15.07 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.53 years | 8.61 years | 10.21 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.51 years | 10.44 years | 12.69 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.67 years | 12.94 years | 14.61 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.01 years | 14.84 years | 15.07 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0771 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 51.02 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expected years of schooling, males vs. females in China?
- Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in China was 15.07 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 15.07 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.61 years in 1992.
- How does China rank for expected years of schooling, males vs. females?
- China ranks 57th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expected years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Expected years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of years a boy of school-entrance-age can expect to receive if the current age-specific enrollment rates persist throughout the child's life.