Education at scale: From near-universal basic schooling to the world's largest university system

Education indicators show both strong retention in compulsory schooling and the continued expansion of higher education during China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), pointing to broad access to education across age groups.

In 2024, the compulsory education retention rate reached 95.9 percent, meaning that nearly all students who enter primary school remain in the system through the end of junior high.

In China, compulsory education refers to the nine-year education system guaranteed by law for all school-age children, covering six years of primary education and three years of junior secondary education.

At the same time, higher education enrollment rose to 48.46 million, forming the largest higher education system in the world.

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