Official 2025 national education statistics.
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Education in China
DATA2025
156.88m in nine-year compulsory education · 101.78m primary · 55.09m junior secondary
China's Ministry of Education reported 156.88 million students in nine-year compulsory education in 2025. That total comprised 101.78 million students in primary education and 55.09 million in junior secondary education, while the compulsory-education retention rate reached 96.1%.
Compulsory enrollment
156.88m*
Primary
101.78m*
Junior secondary
55.09m*
Retention rate
96.1%*
China Education System
| Stage / measure | Structure or value | Current interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Primary education | 101.78m* students | 2025 Ministry communiqué |
| Junior secondary | 55.09m* students | 2025 Ministry communiqué |
| Compulsory total | 156.88m* students | Nine-year compulsory stage |
| Retention rate | 96.1%* | Nine-year compulsory education |
* Reference period and estimate status are shown with the figure.
Nine years of compulsory education
China's compulsory stage combines primary and junior secondary education. The Ministry of Education's 2025 statistical communiqué reports 156.8763 million students across that nine-year stage.
Primary education
Primary schools enrolled 101.7829 million students in 2025. The same release recorded 14.6174 million new entrants and 18.6051 million graduates from primary education during the year.
Junior secondary education
Junior secondary enrollment stood at 55.0934 million in 2025. This is the second part of the nine-year compulsory sequence and should not be combined with senior secondary figures when interpreting compulsory-school enrollment.
Retention and senior secondary
The nine-year compulsory-education retention rate was 96.1% in 2025. Separately, the Ministry reported a 92.0% gross enrollment ratio for senior secondary education, which is a different indicator and population base.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many students were in nine-year compulsory education in 2025?
About 156.88 million.
How many were in primary education?
About 101.78 million.
How many were in junior secondary education?
About 55.09 million.
What was the compulsory-education retention rate?
96.1% in 2025.
Is senior secondary included in the nine-year compulsory total?
No.
What was the senior-secondary gross enrollment ratio?
92.0% in 2025.
Sources and Methodology
Independent official statistical release confirming key 2025 enrollment totals.