Share of the population with lower secondary education in China
China: Share of the population with lower secondary education was 72.4% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of the population with lower secondary education in China, 1982–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population with lower secondary education in China is 72.4%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with lower secondary education in China peaked at 72.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 22.8%, in 1982.
China ranks 68th of 135 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of the population with lower secondary education in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 22.8% | — |
| 1990 | 36.4% | +59.7% |
| 2000 | 52.3% | +43.6% |
| 2010 | 65.3% | +25.0% |
| 2020 | 72.4% | +10.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.8% | 22.8% | 22.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 36.4% | 36.4% | 36.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 52.3% | 52.3% | 52.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 65.3% | 65.3% | 65.3% | 1 |
| 2020s | 72.4% | 72.4% | 72.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 65 Jamaica 77.4% compare
- 66 Namibia 76.8% compare
- 67 Macao 73.3% compare
- 69 Trinidad and Tobago 71.9% compare
- 70 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 70.9% compare
- 71 Palestine, State of 69.5% compare
More education data for China
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 52.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 40.93 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -11.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 60.67 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 5.02 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.72 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 30.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.79 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with lower secondary education in China?
- Share of the population with lower secondary education in China was 72.4% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.8% in 1982.
- How does China rank for share of the population with lower secondary education?
- China ranks 68th out of 135 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with lower secondary education rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults aged 25 and older who have completed lower secondary education or higher.