Tertiary-educated adults in China
In 2020, the share of adults aged 25 to 64 with tertiary education in China was 18.5 %, up from 9.7 % in 2010. Explore the historical series below.
Tertiary-educated adults
Share of 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education
China
| Year | % |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 18.5 |
| 2019 | — |
| 2018 | — |
| 2017 | — |
| 2016 | — |
| 2015 | — |
| 2014 | — |
| 2013 | — |
| 2012 | — |
| 2011 | — |
| 2010 | 9.7 |
About this indicator
This indicator measures the share of adults aged 25 to 64 with tertiary education. Tertiary education covers qualifications beyond upper secondary school, including short-cycle tertiary programmes, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees. In the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 2011, tertiary education covers ISCED levels 5 to 8.
Tertiary-educated adults provide a broad measure of a country’s advanced skills base. As economies become more knowledge-intensive and technology changes the nature of work, higher-level qualifications can support access to more specialised occupations and better labour-market opportunities, although the benefits are not uniform and differ across fields of study and national labour-market conditions.
Tertiary-educated adults provide a broad measure of a country’s advanced skills base. As economies become more knowledge-intensive and technology changes the nature of work, higher-level qualifications can support access to more specialised occupations and better labour-market opportunities, although the benefits are not uniform and differ across fields of study and national labour-market conditions.
Sources and updates
Data sources
The data for this indicator are drawn from the OECD Adults' educational attainment distribution dataset.
Last update
This indicator was last updated on Econorama on 18 June 2026 and reflects the latest data available from the underlying sources at that time.