Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth in China
China: Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth was 16.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth in China, 2010–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth in China is 16.0%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth in China peaked at 23.3% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 16.0%, in 2020.
China ranks 22nd of 42 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 23.3% | — |
| 2012 | 23.0% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 16.2% | -29.5% |
| 2016 | 17.3% | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 16.0% | -7.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 16.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.4%, 1.5× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 20.0% | 16.2% | 23.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 16.0% | 16.0% | 16.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 19 Nigeria 18.1% compare
- 20 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 17.1% compare
- 21 El Salvador 16.8% compare
- 23 Jordan 13.4% compare
- 24 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 12.6% compare
- 25 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 12.2% 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 out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth in China?
- Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth in China was 16.0% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 23.3% in 2010.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.0% in 2020.
- How does China rank for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth?
- China ranks 22nd out of 42 countries with data for 2020.
- Is out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, fourth quintile, both sexes (household survey data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release