International Children's Day, observed June 1, is a day or half-day off for students under 14 in China. "Chart of the Day" takes a deep dive into the trends and insights of China's child population.
China has the world's second largest child population, according to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). China Statistical Yearbook indicated that China's child population aged 0-14 reached 239.08 million in 2022, accounting for 16.94 percent of the total population.
The ratio of population aged 0-14 to total population has been declining since the 1980s, but has remained relatively stable in the past decade. It is thanks to the temporary increase in the number of births after the country relaxed its one-child policy.
In 2022, the ratio of boys to child population was 52.95 percent, while the ratio of girls to child population was 47.05 percent, according to China Statistical Yearbook.
According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, 63.6 percent of children lived with both parents, and 19.6 percent of children lived with one parent, and 16.8 percent of children did not live with either parent. Children who did not live with parents are mainly affected by population migration, as well as parental divorce and death.
The primary school completion rate for children aged 15 was basically stable at 99 percent, the middle school completion rate for those aged 18 peaked at 94.3 percent, and the high school completion rate for those aged 20 stood at 75.4 percent, according to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020.