Average years of schooling in China
China: Average years of schooling was 7.6 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in China, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
China recorded 7.6 years for average years of schooling in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in China peaked at 7.69 years in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.8995 years, in 1925.
That places China 106th out of 162 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in China, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 1.01 years | — |
| 1880 | 1.06 years | +5.0% |
| 1890 | 1.11 years | +4.7% |
| 1900 | 1.16 years | +4.5% |
| 1913 | 1.21 years | +4.3% |
| 1925 | 0.8995 years | -25.7% |
| 1929 | 1.31 years | +45.6% |
| 1933 | 1.39 years | +5.7% |
| 1938 | 1.46 years | +5.4% |
| 1950 | 1.69 years | +15.6% |
| 1955 | 1.98 years | +17.0% |
| 1960 | 2.46 years | +24.7% |
| 1965 | 2.94 years | +19.4% |
| 1970 | 3.52 years | +19.8% |
| 1975 | 4 years | +13.5% |
| 1980 | 4.63 years | +15.7% |
| 1985 | 5.16 years | +11.4% |
| 1990 | 5.6 years | +8.7% |
| 1995 | 6.32 years | +12.8% |
| 2000 | 6.88 years | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 7.31 years | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 7.69 years | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 7.64 years | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 7.6 years | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 1.01 years | 1.01 years | 1.01 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.06 years | 1.06 years | 1.06 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.11 years | 1.11 years | 1.11 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.16 years | 1.16 years | 1.16 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.21 years | 1.21 years | 1.21 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.1 years | 0.8995 years | 1.31 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.42 years | 1.39 years | 1.46 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.83 years | 1.69 years | 1.98 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 2.7 years | 2.46 years | 2.94 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.76 years | 3.52 years | 4 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 4.89 years | 4.63 years | 5.16 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 5.96 years | 5.6 years | 6.32 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.1 years | 6.88 years | 7.31 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 7.66 years | 7.64 years | 7.69 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 7.6 years | 7.6 years | 7.6 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in China?
- Average years of schooling in China was 7.6 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 7.69 years in 2010.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8995 years in 1925.
- How does China rank for average years of schooling?
- China ranks 106th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.