Share of children in primary school age who are in school in China
China: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 93.3% in 1997. ◆ Volatile
Latest (1997)
93.3%
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
136th
of 209 countries
All-time high
97.2%
in 1988
All-time low
0.0%
in 1820
Years of data
44
1820–1997
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in China, 1820–1997
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 93.3% for share of children in primary school age who are in school in 1997.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in China peaked at 97.2% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1820.
China ranks 136th of 209 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.0% | — |
| 1825 | 0.0% | — |
| 1830 | 0.0% | — |
| 1835 | 0.0% | — |
| 1840 | 0.0% | — |
| 1845 | 0.0% | — |
| 1850 | 0.0% | — |
| 1855 | 0.0% | +100.0% |
| 1860 | 0.0% | +50.0% |
| 1865 | 0.1% | +66.7% |
| 1870 | 0.1% | +60.0% |
| 1875 | 0.1% | +75.0% |
| 1880 | 0.2% | +64.3% |
| 1885 | 0.4% | +56.5% |
| 1890 | 0.6% | +58.3% |
| 1895 | 0.9% | +57.9% |
| 1900 | 1.4% | +55.6% |
| 1905 | 2.1% | +53.6% |
| 1910 | 3.3% | +52.6% |
| 1915 | 5.0% | +51.2% |
| 1920 | 7.4% | +49.2% |
| 1925 | 11.1% | +50.0% |
| 1930 | 17.7% | +59.2% |
| 1935 | 22.2% | +25.7% |
| 1940 | 19.6% | -11.7% |
| 1945 | 31.0% | +58.0% |
| 1950 | 32.9% | +6.2% |
| 1955 | 56.4% | +71.4% |
| 1960 | 68.2% | +20.9% |
| 1965 | 68.2% | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 68.2% | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 96.5% | +41.6% |
| 1980 | 80.4% | -16.7% |
| 1987 | 96.1% | +19.5% |
| 1988 | 97.2% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 95.4% | -1.8% |
| 1990 | 92.3% | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 91.7% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 90.6% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 90.2% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 90.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 91.2% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 92.1% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 93.3% | +1.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 93.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.0%, 97% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 93.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 97.4%, 96% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1830s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1840s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1850s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1860s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 2 |
| 1870s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 2 |
| 1900s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 2 |
| 1910s | 4.1% | 3.3% | 5.0% | 2 |
| 1920s | 9.2% | 7.4% | 11.1% | 2 |
| 1930s | 19.9% | 17.7% | 22.2% | 2 |
| 1940s | 25.3% | 19.6% | 31.0% | 2 |
| 1950s | 44.6% | 32.9% | 56.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 68.2% | 68.2% | 68.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 82.4% | 68.2% | 96.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 92.3% | 80.4% | 97.2% | 4 |
| 1990s | 91.4% | 90.0% | 93.3% | 8 |
Countries ranked near China
- 133 Georgia 93.8%
- 134 Nauru 93.4% compare
- 135 Nicaragua 93.3% compare
- 137 Montserrat 93.3%
- 138 Seychelles 93.2% compare
- 139 East Timor 93.1%
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 share of children in primary school age who are in school in China?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in China was 93.3% in 1997, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 97.2% in 1988.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1820.
- How does China rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- China ranks 136th out of 209 countries with data for 1997.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children in primary school age who are in school. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.