China Reports Major Progress in Women’s Education

China has announced significant achievements in advancing women’s access to education across all levels, according to a newly released white paper titled “China’s Achievements in Women’s Well-Rounded Development in the New Era.”

Closing the Gender Gap in Basic Education

The document highlights that the gender divide in basic education has largely been eliminated. In 2024, girls made up 47.3% of kindergarten enrolments and 46.98% of students in nine-year compulsory education. The net elementary school enrollment rate for school-age girls remained impressively high, standing at above 99.9%.

Equal Representation in Higher Education

The white paper also points to remarkable progress in higher education. By 2024, female students accounted for 50.76% of total enrolments in higher education institutions, a 14.15 percentage point increase since 1995. Among graduate students, women represented 50.01%, marking a sharp rise of 22.43 percentage points compared to 1995. This demonstrates that gender balance in advanced education has nearly been achieved.

Expanding Educational Opportunities

China’s efforts to expand learning opportunities have also been reflected in the average years of schooling for women. By 2020, the average length of education for female citizens aged 15 and above had reached 9.59 years, a strong indicator of the country’s continued progress in guaranteeing women’s right to education.

National Commitment to Women’s Development

These achievements reflect China’s broader strategy of promoting gender equality and empowering women through education. The government emphasizes that education is a key foundation for enhancing women’s participation in society and driving sustainable national development.