Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in China
China: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 6.7% in 1997. ▲ Rising
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in China, 1987–1997
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 6.7% for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in 1997.
That represents a change of down 15.8% on the previous year and up 71.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in China peaked at 10.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 1988.
That places China 72nd out of 203 countries with data for 1997, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 3.9% | — |
| 1988 | 2.8% | -27.7% |
| 1989 | 4.6% | +63.3% |
| 1990 | 7.7% | +67.0% |
| 1991 | 8.3% | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 9.4% | +13.4% |
| 1993 | 9.8% | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 10.0% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 8.8% | -11.6% |
| 1996 | 7.9% | -9.9% |
| 1997 | 6.7% | -15.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 6.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 1.7× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 6.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.6%, 2.5× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.8% | 2.8% | 4.6% | 3 |
| 1990s | 8.6% | 6.7% | 10.0% | 8 |
Countries ranked near China
- 69 East Timor 6.9%
- 70 Seychelles 6.8% compare
- 71 Montserrat 6.7%
- 73 Nicaragua 6.7% compare
- 74 Nauru 6.6%
- 75 Georgia 6.2%
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 rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in China?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in China was 6.7% in 1997, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 10.0% in 1994.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 1988.
- How does China rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- China ranks 72nd out of 203 countries with data for 1997.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 71.1%. 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 rate for children of primary school age, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release