Living Longer, learning more: Key population shifts in China's 14th Five-Year Plan

As China approaches the final year of its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), official data show steady improvements in population quality, urban development and education levels. Indicators such as life expectancy, urbanization and years of schooling point to longer lives, a more urban society and a better-educated workforce over the past five years, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Life expectancy in China reached 79 years in 2024, up from 77.93 in 2020 and around five years higher than the global average.

Urbanization continued to rise, with 67 percent of the population living in cities in 2024, an increase of 3.11 percentage points since 2020.

Average years of education among the working-age population (16–59) climbed to 11.21 years, reflecting sustained gains in human capital.