School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in China
China: School age population, early childhood education, both sexes was 36.57 million in 2025. ▼ Falling
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in China, 1997–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in China is 36.57 million, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 29 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.7% on the previous year and down 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in China peaked at 87.27 million in 1997 and was at its lowest, 36.57 million, in 2025.
China ranks 2nd of 207 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 87.27 million | — |
| 1998 | 57.85 million | -33.7% |
| 1999 | 55.99 million | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 54.29 million | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 52.64 million | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 51.02 million | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 49.73 million | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 49.72 million | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 49.23 million | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 48.87 million | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 47.68 million | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 47.65 million | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 47.96 million | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 48.69 million | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 49.51 million | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 50.69 million | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 51.94 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 52.74 million | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 52.92 million | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 54.17 million | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 54.61 million | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 55.59 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 53.93 million | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 54.00 million | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 53.55 million | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 51.44 million | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 47.77 million | -7.1% |
| 2024 | 41.42 million | -13.3% |
| 2025 | 36.57 million | -11.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.03 million | 55.99 million | 87.27 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 49.88 million | 47.65 million | 54.29 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.48 million | 48.69 million | 55.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.46 million | 36.57 million | 54.00 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
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 school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in China?
- School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in China was 36.57 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 87.27 million in 1997.
- What is the lowest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.57 million in 2025.
- How does China rank for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes?
- China ranks 2nd out of 207 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.9%. 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 School age population, early childhood education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release