China Secondary Enrollment
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) SE.SEC.ENRR
China's secondary enrollment was 92.26% in 2012, ranked 69th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from 2011. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2012.
Overview
China's secondary enrollment stood at 92.26% in 2012, a rise of +0.23pp from 2011. China ranked 69th globally.
China’s secondary school enrollment rose dramatically from 25.70 % in 1970 to 92.26 % in 2012, the all‑time peak and the level recorded in the latest World Bank data, placing the country 69th globally. This 66.56‑percentage‑point increase over 40 years reflects sustained expansion of public education, massive infrastructure investment, and policies aimed at universal secondary schooling. The 2012 figure is only marginally below peers such as the United Kingdom (92.51 %) and Montenegro (92.61 %), indicating that China has largely closed the gap with the most advanced education systems. The sharp upward trajectory began in the reform era of the 1980s, accelerated through the 1990s, and culminated in the near‑universal enrollment observed in the early 2010s. Continued growth will depend on maintaining funding levels, addressing rural‑urban disparities, and adapting curricula to a rapidly changing economy, which could either sustain the high enrollment rate or modestly reverse it if demographic pressures intensify.
Data & projection
| Year | Secondary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 92.26% | +0.23pp | #69 |
| 2011 | 92.03% | +1.25pp | #73 |
| 2010 | 90.78% | +2.50pp | #72 |
| 2009 | 88.29% | +5.61pp | #78 |
| 2008 | 82.68% | +4.52pp | #87 |
| 2007 | 78.16% | +4.10pp | #95 |
| 2006 | 74.06% | +10.00pp | #95 |
| 2003 | 64.05% | +1.22pp | #102 |
| 2002 | 62.84% | +0.63pp | #98 |
| 2001 | 62.21% | +2.72pp | #93 |
| 2000 | 59.49% | +0.86pp | #92 |
| 1999 | 58.64% | +3.90pp | #44 |
| 1997 | 54.74% | +2.43pp | #27 |
| 1996 | 52.31% | +3.34pp | #24 |
| 1995 | 48.96% | +1.81pp | #29 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
China matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2013. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw secondary enrollment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
China's secondary enrollment was 92.26% in 2012. Ranked 69th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from the previous year.
China's secondary enrollment peaked at 92.26% in 2012.
The lowest secondary enrollment in China was 25.70% in 1970.
China ranks 69th globally in secondary enrollment as of 2012.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.SEC.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
The secondary enrollment of China in 2012 was 92.26%. This ranks 69th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_china_secondary-enrollment,
title = {China Secondary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/china/secondary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}