Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in China
China: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 8.25 million children in 1997. ▲ Rising
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in China, 1987–1997
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
In 1997, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in China stood at 8.25 million children.
The figure is down 12.8% on the previous year and up 114.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in China peaked at 11.12 million children in 1994 and was at its lowest, 2.75 million children, in 1988.
China ranks 2nd of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in China, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 3.84 million children | — |
| 1988 | 2.75 million children | -28.4% |
| 1989 | 4.53 million children | +64.7% |
| 1990 | 7.87 million children | +73.9% |
| 1991 | 8.65 million children | +9.9% |
| 1992 | 9.98 million children | +15.4% |
| 1993 | 10.62 million children | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 11.12 million children | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 10.10 million children | -9.1% |
| 1996 | 9.46 million children | -6.3% |
| 1997 | 8.25 million children | -12.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 8.25 million children is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21,241 children, 388.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 8.25 million children is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,225 children, 1952.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.71 million children | 2.75 million children | 4.53 million children | 3 |
| 1990s | 9.51 million children | 7.87 million children | 11.12 million children | 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 primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in China?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in China was 8.25 million children in 1997, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 11.12 million children in 1994.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.75 million children in 1988.
- How does China rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- China ranks 2nd out of 196 countries with data for 1997.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.