Secondary education, vocational pupils in China

China: Secondary education, vocational pupils was 15.93 million in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
15.93 million
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
1st
of 201 countries
All-time high
21.14 million
in 2013
All-time low
63,976
in 1971
Years of data
43
1971–2018

Secondary education, vocational pupils in China, 1971–2018

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M1971199420181971: 64.0k1972: 217.6k1973: 342.5k1974: 482.5k1975: 634.3k1976: 707.3k1977: 689.9k1978: 689.2k1979: 889.2k1980: 1.2M1981: 1.7M1982: 1.5M1983: 1.7M1984: 2.9M1985: 3.7M1986: 4.6M1987: 5.2M1988: 5.6M1989: 6.0M1990: 6.3M1991: 6.5M1992: 6.9M1993: 7.4M1994: 8.2M1995: 9.1M1996: 10.1M1997: 10.9M1999: 12.8M2000: 12.3M2003: 11.3M2006: 15.3M2007: 17.2M2008: 18.9M2009: 19.8M2010: 20.4M2011: 20.3M2012: 19.7M2013: 21.1M2014: 19.2M2015: 17.6M2016: 16.6M2017: 16.0M2018: 15.9M

Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for secondary education, vocational pupils in China is 15.93 million, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, secondary education, vocational pupils in China peaked at 21.14 million in 2013 and was at its lowest, 63,976, in 1971.

That places China 1st out of 201 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Secondary education, vocational pupils in China, year by year

Annual values for Secondary education, vocational pupils in China, 1971 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1971 63,976 —
1972 217,570 +240.1%
1973 342,503 +57.4%
1974 482,481 +40.9%
1975 634,284 +31.5%
1976 707,318 +11.5%
1977 689,877 -2.5%
1978 689,202 -0.1%
1979 889,209 +29.0%
1980 1.20 million +34.8%
1981 1.70 million +41.6%
1982 1.55 million -8.7%
1983 1.74 million +12.5%
1984 2.89 million +65.7%
1985 3.70 million +28.0%
1986 4.60 million +24.6%
1987 5.21 million +13.1%
1988 5.58 million +7.1%
1989 6.01 million +7.6%
1990 6.26 million +4.2%
1991 6.53 million +4.3%
1992 6.86 million +5.0%
1993 7.39 million +7.8%
1994 8.16 million +10.3%
1995 9.12 million +11.9%
1996 10.09 million +10.6%
1997 10.88 million +7.8%
1999 12.75 million +17.2%
2000 12.33 million -3.3%
2003 11.30 million -8.3%
2006 15.31 million +35.5%
2007 17.23 million +12.6%
2008 18.91 million +9.7%
2009 19.78 million +4.6%
2010 20.42 million +3.2%
2011 20.30 million -0.6%
2012 19.70 million -3.0%
2013 21.14 million +7.3%
2014 19.23 million -9.0%
2015 17.56 million -8.7%
2016 16.57 million -5.6%
2017 15.99 million -3.5%
2018 15.93 million -0.4%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Secondary education, vocational pupils in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1972 +240.1% 63,976 217,570

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 524,047 63,976 889,209 9
1980s 3.42 million 1.20 million 6.01 million 10
1990s 8.67 million 6.26 million 12.75 million 9
2000s 15.81 million 11.30 million 19.78 million 6
2010s 18.54 million 15.93 million 21.14 million 9

Countries ranked near China

  1. 2 Indonesia 4.90 million compare
  2. 3 Mexico 3.75 million compare
  3. 4 Turkey 2.71 million compare

See the full ranking of 244 places →

More education data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is secondary education, vocational pupils in China?
Secondary education, vocational pupils in China was 15.93 million in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest secondary education, vocational pupils recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 21.14 million in 2013.
What is the lowest secondary education, vocational pupils recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 63,976 in 1971.
How does China rank for secondary education, vocational pupils?
China ranks 1st out of 201 countries with data for 2018.
Is secondary education, vocational pupils rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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, vocational pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Secondary education, vocational pupils in China. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 13 November 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/secondary-education-vocational-pupils/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Secondary education, vocational pupils
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
244 places, 8,309 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Secondary vocational pupils are the number of secondary students enrolled in technical and vocational education programs, including teacher training.