Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in China
China: Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes was 8.25 million in 1997. ▲ Rising
Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in China, 1987–1997
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
China recorded 8.25 million for out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in 1997.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.8% on the previous year and up 114.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in China peaked at 11.12 million in 1994 and was at its lowest, 2.75 million, in 1988.
China ranks 2nd of 204 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 3.84 million | — |
| 1988 | 2.75 million | -28.4% |
| 1989 | 4.53 million | +64.7% |
| 1990 | 7.87 million | +73.9% |
| 1991 | 8.65 million | +9.9% |
| 1992 | 9.98 million | +15.4% |
| 1993 | 10.62 million | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 11.12 million | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 10.10 million | -9.1% |
| 1996 | 9.46 million | -6.3% |
| 1997 | 8.25 million | -12.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 8.25 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21,296, 387.3× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 8.25 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,225, 1952.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.71 million | 2.75 million | 4.53 million | 3 |
| 1990s | 9.51 million | 7.87 million | 11.12 million | 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 out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in China?
- Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes in China was 8.25 million in 1997, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 11.12 million in 1994.
- What is the lowest out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.75 million in 1988.
- How does China rank for out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes?
- China ranks 2nd out of 204 countries with data for 1997.
- Is out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 114.8%. 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 Out-of-school children of primary school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release