Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female in China
China: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female was 45.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female in China, 1982–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female in China is 45.0%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female in China peaked at 78.0% in 1982 and was at its lowest, 45.0%, in 2020.
That places China 32nd out of 58 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 78.0% | — |
| 1990 | 73.0% | -6.4% |
| 2000 | 64.0% | -12.3% |
| 2010 | 54.0% | -15.6% |
| 2020 | 45.0% | -16.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 78.0% | 78.0% | 78.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 73.0% | 73.0% | 73.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 64.0% | 64.0% | 64.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 54.0% | 54.0% | 54.0% | 1 |
| 2020s | 45.0% | 45.0% | 45.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0771 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 51.02 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female in China?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female in China was 45.0% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 78.0% in 1982.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.0% in 2020.
- How does China rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female?
- China ranks 32nd out of 58 countries with data for 2020.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. 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 Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, % female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release