Secondary education, general pupils in China
China: Secondary education, general pupils was 68.39 million in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
68.39 million
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
2nd
of 204 countries
All-time high
85.89 million
in 2006
All-time low
20.21 million
in 1970
Years of data
44
1970–2018
Secondary education, general pupils in China, 1970–2018
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for secondary education, general pupils in China is 68.39 million, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, general pupils in China peaked at 85.89 million in 2006 and was at its lowest, 20.21 million, in 1970.
China ranks 2nd of 204 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
Secondary education, general pupils in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 20.21 million | — |
| 1971 | 26.42 million | +30.7% |
| 1972 | 31.28 million | +18.4% |
| 1973 | 35.82 million | +14.5% |
| 1974 | 34.46 million | -3.8% |
| 1975 | 36.50 million | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 44.66 million | +22.3% |
| 1977 | 58.37 million | +30.7% |
| 1978 | 67.80 million | +16.2% |
| 1979 | 65.48 million | -3.4% |
| 1980 | 59.05 million | -9.8% |
| 1981 | 55.08 million | -6.7% |
| 1982 | 48.60 million | -11.8% |
| 1983 | 45.28 million | -6.8% |
| 1984 | 43.98 million | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 45.54 million | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 47.06 million | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 48.90 million | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 49.48 million | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 47.62 million | -3.8% |
| 1990 | 45.54 million | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 45.86 million | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 46.84 million | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 47.71 million | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 47.39 million | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 49.82 million | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 53.71 million | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 57.40 million | +6.9% |
| 1999 | 64.68 million | +12.7% |
| 2000 | 69.16 million | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 84.33 million | +21.9% |
| 2006 | 85.89 million | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 84.60 million | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 82.54 million | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 80.61 million | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 78.80 million | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 77.15 million | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 75.31 million | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 73.18 million | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 69.46 million | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 68.57 million | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 67.39 million | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 67.42 million | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 68.39 million | +1.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 68.39 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 429,923, 159.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 68.39 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 141,712, 482.6× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 42.10 million | 20.21 million | 67.80 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.06 million | 43.98 million | 59.05 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.99 million | 45.54 million | 64.68 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 81.19 million | 69.16 million | 85.89 million | 6 |
| 2010s | 71.74 million | 67.39 million | 78.80 million | 9 |
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 secondary education, general pupils in China?
- Secondary education, general pupils in China was 68.39 million in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, general pupils recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 85.89 million in 2006.
- What is the lowest secondary education, general pupils recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.21 million in 1970.
- How does China rank for secondary education, general pupils?
- China ranks 2nd out of 204 countries with data for 2018.
- Is secondary education, general pupils rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Secondary education, general pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Secondary general pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in general education programs, including teacher training.