School enrollment, tertiary in China

China: School enrollment, tertiary was 76.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
76.9%
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
38th
of 192 countries
All-time high
76.9%
in 2024
All-time low
0.1%
in 1970
Years of data
51
1970–2024

School enrollment, tertiary in China, 1970–2024

020406080197019972024

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

The most recent figure for school enrollment, tertiary in China is 76.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 75.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary in China peaked at 76.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1970.

That places China 38th out of 192 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 0.5% 0.1% 1.0% 8
1980s 2.4% 1.3% 3.1% 8
1990s 4.4% 2.8% 6.6% 10
2000s 16.6% 7.6% 23.3% 10
2010s 41.5% 25.3% 56.6% 10
2020s 70.3% 61.6% 76.9% 5

Countries ranked near China

  1. 35 Portugal 77.7% compare
  2. 36 Ireland 77.6% compare
  3. 37 New Zealand 77.2% compare
  4. 39 Germany 76.7% compare
  5. 40 Iceland 76.5% compare
  6. 41 Canada 76.3% compare

See the full ranking of 237 places →

More education data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, tertiary in China?
School enrollment, tertiary in China was 76.9% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 76.9% in 2024.
What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1970.
How does China rank for school enrollment, tertiary?
China ranks 38th out of 192 countries with data for 2024.
Is school enrollment, tertiary rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 75.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, tertiary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, tertiary (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
237 places, 7,325 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.