Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in China
China: Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 44.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
44.6%
Change on year
down 14.8%
World rank
20th
of 44 countries
All-time high
52.4%
in 2018
All-time low
16.0%
in 2010
Years of data
5
2010–2020
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in China, 2010–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 44.6% for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in 2020.
The figure is down 14.8% on the previous year and up 179.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in China peaked at 52.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 16.0%, in 2010.
China ranks 20th of 44 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.0% | — |
| 2012 | 28.2% | +76.2% |
| 2016 | 32.0% | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 52.4% | +63.6% |
| 2020 | 44.6% | -14.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 32.2% | 16.0% | 52.4% | 4 |
| 2020s | 44.6% | 44.6% | 44.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in China?
- Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in China was 44.6% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 52.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.0% in 2010.
- How does China rank for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- China ranks 20th out of 44 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 179.1%. 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 Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release