Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in China
China: Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling was 96.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in China, 1950–2020
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in China is 96.7%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in China peaked at 96.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 47.5%, in 1950.
China ranks 39th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 47.5% | — |
| 1982 | 65.5% | +37.9% |
| 1990 | 77.8% | +18.7% |
| 2000 | 90.9% | +16.9% |
| 2010 | 95.1% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 96.7% | +1.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 96.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.8%, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- China's 96.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.0%, 1.0× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 47.5% | 47.5% | 47.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 65.5% | 65.5% | 65.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 77.8% | 77.8% | 77.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 90.9% | 90.9% | 90.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 95.1% | 95.1% | 95.1% | 1 |
| 2020s | 96.7% | 96.7% | 96.7% | 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 vs. average years of schooling in China?
- Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in China was 96.7% in 2020, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate vs. average years of schooling recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 96.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest literacy rate vs. average years of schooling recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.5% in 1950.
- How does China rank for literacy rate vs. average years of schooling?
- China ranks 39th out of 128 countries with data for 2020.
- Is literacy rate vs. average years of schooling rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.