Girls and boys who are out of school in China
China: Girls and boys who are out of school was 3.91 million girls in 1997. ▬ Flat
Girls and boys who are out of school in China, 1989–1997
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in girls.
Analysis
China recorded 3.91 million girls for girls and boys who are out of school in 1997.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.9% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, girls and boys who are out of school in China peaked at 6.20 million girls in 1994 and was at its lowest, 3.89 million girls, in 1989.
That places China 2nd out of 180 countries with data for 1997, putting it in the top 10%.
Girls and boys who are out of school in China, year by year
| Year | girls | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 3.89 million girls | — |
| 1990 | 5.29 million girls | +36.0% |
| 1991 | 5.48 million girls | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 5.96 million girls | +8.8% |
| 1993 | 6.13 million girls | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 6.20 million girls | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 5.41 million girls | -12.7% |
| 1996 | 4.82 million girls | -10.9% |
| 1997 | 3.91 million girls | -18.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.89 million girls | 3.89 million girls | 3.89 million girls | 1 |
| 1990s | 5.40 million girls | 3.91 million girls | 6.20 million girls | 8 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is girls and boys who are out of school in China?
- Girls and boys who are out of school in China was 3.91 million girls in 1997, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest girls and boys who are out of school recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 6.20 million girls in 1994.
- What is the lowest girls and boys who are out of school recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.89 million girls in 1989.
- How does China rank for girls and boys who are out of school?
- China ranks 2nd out of 180 countries with data for 1997.
- Is girls and boys who are out of school rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Girls and boys who are out of school. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Girls in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.