Literacy rate, youth female in China
China: Literacy rate, youth female was 99.8% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, youth female in China, 1982–2020
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of females ages 15-24.
Analysis
China recorded 99.8% for literacy rate, youth female in 2020. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth female in China peaked at 99.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 82.1%, in 1982.
China ranks 12th of 105 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Literacy rate, youth female in China, year by year
| Year | % of females ages 15-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 82.1% | — |
| 1990 | 91.5% | +11.4% |
| 2000 | 98.5% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 99.6% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 99.8% | +0.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 99.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 99.0%, 1.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- China's 99.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 98.9%, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 82.1% | 82.1% | 82.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 91.5% | 91.5% | 91.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 98.5% | 98.5% | 98.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 99.6% | 99.6% | 99.6% | 1 |
| 2020s | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 1 |
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 literacy rate, youth female in China?
- Literacy rate, youth female in China was 99.8% in 2020, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, youth female recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 99.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, youth female recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 82.1% in 1982.
- How does China rank for literacy rate, youth female?
- China ranks 12th out of 105 countries with data for 2020.
- Is literacy rate, youth female rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.