STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN CHINA

The infographic sheet provides an overview of the status of women and girls in China with figures across several key areas, including demography, education, employment, rural women, leadership and political participation, digitalization, and violence against women and girls. It highlights progress in some areas, such as increasing female literacy rates and efforts to increase women's representation in politics, but also notes challenges, such as the gender gap with unpaid care work and the underrepresentation of women in high-level government and corporate positions. This sheet also draws attention to the impact of digitalization on women and girls, as well as the ongoing issue of violence against women and girls in China.

A small graphic image of a woman and a girl with an orange ribbon behind them.

A graphic image to describe data with female and male icons.

In 2021, women accounted for

48.76

of China's total population.

(Source: National Bureau of Statistics, (Data as of 11 October 2020); Report of the Seventh National Census)

A graphic image that shows images of babies to represent data on the page.

The sex ratio at birth refers to the number of male live births for every 100 female live births. The sex ratio at birth was

111.3

(Source: National Bureau of Statistics (Data as of 2020); The China National Program for Women's Development and the China National Program for Child Development (NAPs) for 2011-2020: Facts and Figure)

In 2020,

72.85 million female students enrolled in nine-year compulsory education, accounting for

46.6

of all students.

19.50 million female students enrolled in senior secondary education, accounting for

46.9

of all students.

1.60 million female graduate students enrolled in higher education, accounting for

50.9

of all students.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics (Data as of 2020); NPAs for 2011-2020: Facts and Figure)

An orange circle with graphic icons of women in white in the centre.

43.1

In 2020, the proportion of women in the total employed population was 43.1% in China.

(Source: National Bureau of Statistics, (Data as of 2021); Statistical Monitoring Report of China National Program for Women’s Development (2021-2030) in 2021)

an orange circle with a graphic icon of a mother holding a baby and a small boy.

2.5

Women do 2.5 times as much unpaid care and domestic work as men.

(Source: National Bureau of Statistics, (Data as of 2018); National Time Use Survey Bulletin 2018)

An orange circle with a graphic icon of a woman holding a briefcase.

37.6

In 2021, the proportion of female staff directors in enterprises was 37.6%.

(Source: National Bureau of Statistics, (Data as of 2021); Statistical Monitoring Report of China National Program for Women’s Development (2021-2030) in 2021)

An orange circle with a graphic icon of 3 women standing together.

40.5

The proportion of female staff supervisors in enterprises was 40.5%.

(Source: National Bureau of Statistics, (Data as of 2021); Statistical Monitoring Report of China National Program for Women’s Development (2021-2030) in 2021)

Rural women account for about 70% of the agricultural labor force.

(Source: White Paper: Gender Equality and Women’s Development in China, (Data as of 2015))

China has lifted all rural poverty population and all designated poverty counties out of poverty. By the end of 2020, among nearly 100 million who have shaken off poverty, women account for half.

(Source: National Bureau of Statistics, (Data as of 2021); Final Statistical Monitoring Report on the Implementation of China National Program for Women’s Development (2011-2020))

Women hold

26.54

of seats in the National People's Congress in China.

(Source: List of Representatives to the 14th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, (Data as of 2023))

A purple circle with a graphic icon of a woman standing in front of a Government building.

Women hold

7.7

of ministerial positions with 2 out of 26 ministers being women

(Source: The State Council of the People's Republic of China, (Date as of 2023))

3 of 11

top judges in the Supreme People’s Court are women

(Source: Supreme People’s Court, (Data as of 2023))

A purple circle with a graphic icon of a woman and a judicial icon.

Among about 120,000 judges in the judicial system, 45,000 are women, accounts for

37.5

of the members.

(Source: Supreme People’s Court, (Data as of 2022))

Women accounted for

of internet netizens.

(Source: Cyberspace Administration of China, (Data as of February 2021); The 47th China Statistical Report on Internet Development)

A white circle with a graphic icon of a woman holding a laptop computer.

And

of internet entrepreneurs.

(Source: White Paper: Equality, Development and Sharing: Progress of Women's Cause in 70 Years Since New China's Founding, (Data as of 2019)

The number of female personnel working in research and development (R&D) is

45.8

A white circle with a graphic icon of a woman holding a magnifying glass.

(Source: Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s republic of China, (Data as of 2021)); Policy Interpretation on the Several Measures to Support Female Technological Talents to Play Greater Roles in Technological Innovation)

In 2019, women made up

of academicians in the Chinese Academy of Sciences

A white circle with a graphic icon of a woman holding a science beaker

and

5.3%

of those in the Chinese Academy of Engineering

A white circle with a graphic icon of a woman wearing a construction helmet.

(Source: Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s republic of China, (Data as of 2019); Policy Interpretation on the Several Measures to Support Female Technological Talents to Play Greater Roles in Technological Innovation)

an orange circle with a graphic icon of a woman and a young girl standing with a judicial icon.

The “Anti-Domestic Violence Law of the People’s Republic of China” was passed in December 2015 and came into effect in March 2016.

(Source: The National People’s Congress, (Data as of 2015); The Anti-Domestic Violence Law of the People's Republic of China)

In 2020, the percentage of women who have experienced physical and emotional violence by their spouse during their marriage is 8.6%, a decrease of 5.2% from 2010.

(Source: National Bureau of Statistics (Data as of 2021); the Fourth Survey on Social Status of Women in China)

By the end of December 2022, courts across China have issued nearly 15,000 personal safety protection orders, demonstrating a year-on-year increase.

(Source: UN Treaty Body Database, (Data as of 02 March 2023); Replies of China to the list of issues and questions in relation to its ninth periodic report of CEDAW)

A total of 247 supporting laws and policy documents have been published in 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across the country to implement the Anti-Domestic Violence Law.

(Source: People’s Republic of China Comprehensive National-Level Review Report on the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, (Data as of 2019))

STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN CHINA

Demography

Education

Employment

Rural Women

Leadership and Political Participation

Digitalization

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)