Literacy rate, youth total in China
China: Literacy rate, youth total was 99.8% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, youth total in China, 1982–2020
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of people ages 15-24.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, youth total in China is 99.8%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth total in China peaked at 99.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 88.8%, in 1982.
That places China 12th out of 95 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Literacy rate, youth total in China, year by year
| Year | % of people ages 15-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 88.8% | — |
| 1990 | 94.3% | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 98.9% | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 99.6% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 99.8% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 88.8% | 88.8% | 88.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 94.3% | 94.3% | 94.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 98.9% | 98.9% | 98.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 99.6% | 99.6% | 99.6% | 1 |
| 2020s | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 9 Macau, China 99.8% compare
- 10 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 99.8% compare
- 11 Philippines 99.8% compare
- 13 Serbia 99.7% compare
- 14 Spain 99.7% compare
- 15 Tonga 99.7% compare
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 total in China?
- Literacy rate, youth total 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 total recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 99.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, youth total recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 88.8% in 1982.
- How does China rank for literacy rate, youth total?
- China ranks 12th out of 95 countries with data for 2020.
- Is literacy rate, youth total rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. 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 total (% of people 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.