China’s Dwindling Cohort of Schoolkids

Low birth rates mean the number of children in preschool and compulsory education is shrinking — but more students than ever are continuing their studies

China’s higher education sector was a bright spot last year, continuing to expand while preschool, primary school and middle school enrollment continued to decline in tandem with the country’s population.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Education, the country had 470,000 education institutions of all types last year, with 286.47 million students enrolled in formal education programs and 18.85 million full-time teachers.

Higher education overall expanded. Enrollment across all forms reached 48.46 million, up 828,100, or 1.74%, from the previous year.

Undergraduate-level vocational education, in particular, saw rapid expansion. The number of vocational colleges offering bachelor’s degrees rose to 51, an increase of 18 from 2023 — the biggest expansion since 2020. These schools enrolled 109,600 students, up 19,700 year-on-year.

In January,