China vs India: School age population, one year before than official primary entry age

China
9.28 million number
in 2020
India
12.20 million number
in 2020
China rank
2nd
India rank
1st

School age population, one year before than official primary entry age over time

  • China
  • India
05.0M10.0M15.0M197019952020

How they compare

India currently reports 12.20 million number against 9.28 million number in China, a difference of 2.92 million number.

That makes India's figure about 1.3 times China's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 51 shared years of data; in 1970 it was China ahead.

China ranks 2nd and India ranks 1st of 202 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and India in 4.

Head to head by decade

Decade China India Difference Ahead
1970s 13.04 million number 8.68 million number 4.36 million number China
1980s 11.03 million number 10.62 million number 409,770 number China
1990s 12.52 million number 12.56 million number 42,360 number India
2000s 9.33 million number 13.34 million number 4.00 million number India
2010s 9.09 million number 13.20 million number 4.11 million number India
2020s 9.28 million number 12.20 million number 2.92 million number India

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher school age population, one year before than official primary entry age, China or India?
India, at 12.20 million number against 9.28 million number in China as of 2020.
What is the difference in school age population, one year before than official primary entry age between China and India?
2.92 million number, with India ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and India?
51 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2020.
How do China and India rank globally for school age population, one year before than official primary entry age?
China ranks 2nd and India ranks 1st of 202 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as School age population, one year before than official primary entry age, male (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs India: School age population, one year before than official primary entry age. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/school-age-population-one-year-before-than-official-primary-entry-age-male-number/china/india/

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About this data

Indicator
School age population, one year before than official primary entry age, male (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
247 places, 12,237 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

Male population of the age-group theoretically corresponding to one year before the official primary entry age as indicated by theoretical entrance age and duration. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/