School enrollment, primary in China
China: School enrollment, primary was 89.3% in 1997. ▼ Falling
School enrollment, primary in China, 1987–1997
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % net.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school enrollment, primary in China is 89.3%, measured in 1997. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in China peaked at 96.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 89.3%, in 1997.
China ranks 128th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 94.5% | 92.8% | 96.1% | 3 |
| 1990s | 93.5% | 89.3% | 96.9% | 8 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 15.4% (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 99.6% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 6.74 million (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 100.7% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 98.7% (2024)
- Labor force, female 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force, total 768.07 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school enrollment, primary in China?
- School enrollment, primary in China was 89.3% in 1997, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 96.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 89.3% in 1997.
- How does China rank for school enrollment, primary?
- China ranks 128th out of 186 countries with data for 1997.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 School enrollment, primary (% net). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.