Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
A primary school in Shanghai has gained attention after its student population dropped to just 22 this year. This showcases the effects of China’s declining birth rate on education.
Sanqiao Primary School is located in the Pudong New Area. The school now has more full-time staff than pupils, with 22 children and 23 teachers, despite being situated in one of China’s largest cities, according to enrolment data.
Sanqiao is an extreme example, but a drop in birth rates in China has led to many preschool closures. Now, it’s starting to affect primary schools as well.
In 2024, the number of kindergartens in China fell by more than 20,000 compared with the previous year, according to official data.
Student numbers at Sanqiao have dropped sharply because several nearby residential areas were recently torn down and relocated.
China’s birth rate has declined since reaching a peak in 2016.
