Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in China

China: Primary education, pupils, gaps filled was 108.57 million in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
108.57 million
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
2nd
of 206 countries
All-time high
150.94 million
in 1976
All-time low
93.86 million
in 2014
Years of data
51
1970–2024

Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in China, 1970–2024

050.0M100.0M150.0M197019972024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2024, primary education, pupils, gaps filled in China stood at 108.57 million.

That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary education, pupils, gaps filled in China peaked at 150.94 million in 1976 and was at its lowest, 93.86 million, in 2014.

China ranks 2nd of 206 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.

Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in China, year by year

Annual values for Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in China, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 100.67 million
1971 105.28 million +4.6%
1972 112.11 million +6.5%
1973 125.49 million +11.9%
1974 135.70 million +8.1%
1975 144.81 million +6.7%
1976 150.94 million +4.2%
1977 150.06 million -0.6%
1978 146.18 million -2.6%
1979 146.24 million +0.0%
1980 146.63 million +0.3%
1981 146.27 million -0.2%
1982 143.33 million -2.0%
1983 139.72 million -2.5%
1984 135.78 million -2.8%
1985 135.57 million -0.2%
1986 133.70 million -1.4%
1987 131.82 million -1.4%
1988 128.36 million -2.6%
1989 125.36 million -2.3%
1990 123.73 million -1.3%
1991 122.41 million -1.1%
1992 121.64 million -0.6%
1993 122.01 million +0.3%
1994 124.21 million +1.8%
1995 128.23 million +3.2%
1996 131.95 million +2.9%
1997 136.15 million +3.2%
1998 139.95 million +2.8%
1999 136.68 million -2.3%
2000 133.41 million -2.4%
2001 130.13 million -2.5%
2006 108.92 million -16.3%
2007 107.39 million -1.4%
2008 105.95 million -1.3%
2009 103.62 million -2.2%
2010 101.02 million -2.5%
2011 99.71 million -1.3%
2012 99.54 million -0.2%
2013 97.23 million -2.3%
2014 93.86 million -3.5%
2015 94.79 million +1.0%
2016 97.24 million +2.6%
2017 99.49 million +2.3%
2018 101.12 million +1.6%
2019 103.59 million +2.4%
2020 105.83 million +2.2%
2021 107.47 million +1.6%
2022 108.02 million +0.5%
2023 107.54 million -0.4%
2024 108.57 million +1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 131.75 million 100.67 million 150.94 million 10
1980s 136.65 million 125.36 million 146.63 million 10
1990s 128.70 million 121.64 million 139.95 million 10
2000s 114.90 million 103.62 million 133.41 million 6
2010s 98.76 million 93.86 million 103.59 million 10
2020s 107.48 million 105.83 million 108.57 million 5

Countries ranked near China

  1. 1 India 126.12 million compare
  2. 3 Nigeria 33.42 million compare
  3. 4 Indonesia 28.68 million compare
  4. 5 Pakistan 25.38 million compare

See the full ranking of 251 places →

More education data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary education, pupils, gaps filled in China?
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in China was 108.57 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest primary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 150.94 million in 1976.
What is the lowest primary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 93.86 million in 2014.
How does China rank for primary education, pupils, gaps filled?
China ranks 2nd out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
Is primary education, pupils, gaps filled rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Primary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.

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Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in China. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/primary-education-pupils-gaps-filled/china/

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How this figure is calculated

Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
251 places, 11,866 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.