Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in China
China: Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes was 7,020 in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in China, 1989–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
China recorded 7,020 for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 28.6% on the previous year and down 97.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in China peaked at 9.39 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 7,020, in 2021.
China ranks 102nd of 205 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.
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 9.39 million | — |
| 1990 | 8.06 million | -14.1% |
| 1991 | 7.52 million | -6.7% |
| 1992 | 6.21 million | -17.5% |
| 1993 | 5.59 million | -10.0% |
| 1994 | 4.64 million | -16.9% |
| 1995 | 3.63 million | -21.9% |
| 1996 | 2.88 million | -20.7% |
| 1997 | 2.23 million | -22.4% |
| 2006 | 292,869 | -86.9% |
| 2007 | 264,951 | -9.5% |
| 2008 | 303,768 | +14.7% |
| 2009 | 289,986 | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 279,624 | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 257,442 | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 170,327 | -33.8% |
| 2013 | 146,747 | -13.8% |
| 2014 | 75,504 | -48.5% |
| 2015 | 18,930 | -74.9% |
| 2016 | 13,180 | -30.4% |
| 2017 | 13,714 | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 7,584 | -44.7% |
| 2019 | 8,312 | +9.6% |
| 2020 | 9,834 | +18.3% |
| 2021 | 7,020 | -28.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.39 million | 9.39 million | 9.39 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 5.10 million | 2.23 million | 8.06 million | 8 |
| 2000s | 287,894 | 264,951 | 303,768 | 4 |
| 2010s | 99,136 | 7,584 | 279,624 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,427 | 7,020 | 9,834 | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 6.74 million (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 15.4% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 99.64 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 99.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in China?
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in China was 7,020 in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 9.39 million in 1989.
- What is the lowest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,020 in 2021.
- How does China rank for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes?
- China ranks 102nd out of 205 countries with data for 2021.
- Is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 97.3%. 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, published as part of Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release