2.Statistical Monitoring Report of Outline for Women’s Development in China (2021-2030) ...

National Bureau of Statistics of China, December 2025

In order to fully reflect the progress in the implementation of the China National Program for Women's Development (2021-2030) (hereinafter referred to as the "Program"), the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS), based on the statistical monitoring index system and data of relevant departments pertaining to the Program, made a comprehensive analysis of its implementation in 2024 in respect of eight areas including health, education, economy, decision-making and management, social security, family building, environment and law. The results[1]showed that the overall implementation of the Program has progressed smoothly. Women's health conditions continued to improve, their levels of education and capacity to participate in economic and social development continuously increased, social security was steadily enhanced, and the protection of their lawful rights and interests was further strengthened.

I. Women and Health

(I) Women's health continued to improve. The Technical Evaluation Plan for the Care and Treatment System of Critically Ill Pregnant and Postpartum Women was formulated and implemented, and a comprehensive system for the care and treatment of critically ill pregnant and postpartum women was established and refined, featuring broad coverage, tiered responsibilities, coordinated linkage across levels, and orderly emergency response. In this manner, the capacity and quality of care and treatment for obstetric emergencies and critical conditions were improved, effectively safeguarding maternal lives. In 2024, the maternal mortality ratio was 14.3 per 100,000, representing a decrease of 5.3% compared with 2023. Among this, the maternal mortality ratio in rural areas was 15.9 per 100,000, a decrease of 6.5%, while the maternal mortality ratio in urban areas was 12.5 per 100,000, remaining unchanged from 2023.

(II) The maternal health management continued to improve. The maternal and child health security system was further strengthened, establishing a maternal and child health service system with maternal and child health institutions at its core, primary-level medical and health institutions as the foundation, and large and medium-sized hospitals as well as relevant teaching and research institutions as support. As a result, the maternal health management was steadily improved. The premarital medical examination rate was 77.1% in 2024, with an increase of 0.5 percentage points. The systematic management rate of pregnant and postpartum women and the rate for prenatal screening were 94.9% and 93.5%, respectively, representing increases of 0.4 and 2.2 percentage points, respectively. The institutional delivery rate for pregnant women continued to remain at 99.9%. The postpartum visit rate was 97.3%, with an increase of 0.3 percentage points.

(III) Mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV continued to decline. Efforts were made to promote the establishment of an integrated service model for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission, with an emphasis on standardized management throughout the entire process, and to improve service processes for early-pregnancy testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. The mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV remained at a relatively low level. The mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV was 1.2% in 2024, with a decrease of 0.1 percentage points compared to 2023. The antiretroviral (ARV) drug uptake rate in children born to HIV-infected mothers remained above 95%.

II. Women and Education

(I) The gender gap in compulsory education was basically eliminated. Efforts were made to strengthen and improve elementary education, increase the number of high-quality compulsory education schools, and continuously increase the supply of high-quality school places in compulsory education. A mechanism for the coordinated allocation of elementary education resources in line with demographic changes was progressively improved, and balanced, high-quality development of compulsory education as well as urban-rural integration continued to advance, ensuring girls' equal access to fair and high-quality compulsory education. The net enrollment rate for girls and boys of school age in primary education in 2024 was 99.9% for both. The number of girls enrolled in the nine-year compulsory education was 75.024 million, accounting for 47.0% of the total enrolled students, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from 2023.

(II) Women's right to receive senior high education[2]was effectively safeguarded. The capacity and quality of senior high education were enhanced, the enrollment in high-quality senior high schools was expanded, and the supply of places in general senior high schools was increased, thereby ensuring girls' rights and opportunities to receive senior high education. The number of female students receiving senior high education was 21.402 million in 2024, accounting for 46.7% of the total enrolled students, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from 2023. The number of female students in general senior high schools was 14.4 million, with an increase of 518 thousand compared to 2023. It accounted for 49.3% of the total enrolled students in general senior high schools, indicating a relatively balanced gender ratio.

(III) Women's access to vocational education continued to increase. The building of a modern vocational education system was accelerated to foster new models featuring diversified provision and the integration of industry and education, and broaden pathways for students' growth and development through closer linkages between vocational and general education. The policy environment for the development of skilled talent was optimized, contributing to an improvement in women's access to vocational education. For higher vocational undergraduate and college programs in 2024, the number of female students was 8.656 million, with an increase of 409 thousand compared to 2023. It accounted for 47.9% of the total enrolled students, an increase of 0.6 percentage points.

(IV) The gender ratio in higher education[3]was essentially balanced. Reform and development of higher education institutions were advanced in a differentiated manner, the layout of higher education was optimized, and plans to orderly expand undergraduate enrollment in high-quality universities were implemented, effectively safeguarding women's right to access higher education. The gross enrollment rate in higher education reached 60.8% in 2024, an increase of 0.6 percentage points from 2023. The number of female students in higher education was 26.614 million, accounting for 50.8% of the total enrolled students, indicating a balanced gender ratio. There were 2.048 million female postgraduate students, accounting for 50.0% of all postgraduate students. The number of female students receiving general undergraduate and college education[4]and female students enrolled in adult undergraduate and college programs was 19.433 million and 5.133 million, respectively, with a proportion of 49.9% and 54.5%, respectively.

(V) The gender gap in scientific literacy has been continuously narrowing. The newly revised Law of the People's Republic of China on the Popularization of Science and Technology was promulgated and implemented. Actions to improve scientific literacy among key population groups were advanced in depth, the construction of science popularization infrastructure was strengthened, and the supply of high-quality science popularization resources was expanded. Capacity for science popularization services at the grassroots level was enhanced, and the scientific literacy level among both women and men was further improved, further narrowing the gender gap. The gender gap in scientific literacy[5]was 2.76% in 2024, which decreased by 0.37 percentage points compared to 2023.

III. Women and the Economy

(I) The share of women among all employed people remained above 40%. The Notice on Further Strengthening the Well-Regulated Management of the Human Resources Market was issued and implemented. Supervision over employment discrimination practices was strengthened, the management system for recruitment information was further improved, and the employment rights of women were safeguarded. There were 320 million females employed nationwide by the end of 2024, accounting for 43.4% of the total workforce, an increase of 0.1 percentage points compared with the end of 2023. For employees in the urban non-private sector, there were 68.886 million females, an increase of 1.848 million, representing 41.7% of the workforce, an increase of 0.7 percentage points.

(II) Labor safety and health protections for women were continuously strengthened. The Notice on Further Advancing the Occupational Health Protection Action and Improving Workers' Occupational Health Literacy was issued and implemented, and interventions to enhance occupational health literacy among key populations were intensified, resulting in further improvements in workers' occupational health literacy. Local governments actively introduced labor protection regulations for female employees, strengthened safeguards for their rights and interests during menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation, and actively built a comprehensive rights and interests protection network covering the entire employment cycle. The proportion of enterprises implementing the Special Rules on the Labor Protection of Female Employees was 75.3% in 2024, an increase of 1.8 percentage points from 2023.

IV. Participation of Women in Decision-Making and Management

(1) The cultivation and selection of female cadres were further strengthened. In 2024, the proportion of leadership teams with female cadres in provincial, municipal, and county-level government departments increased by 1.7, 2.2, and 2.1 percentage points, respectively, compared with 2023; the proportion of leadership teams with female principal leaders in the provincial, municipal, and county-level government departments increased by 0.4, 0.6, and 1.0 percentage points, respectively.

(II) The proportion of women participating in corporate management steadily increased. Reforms of enterprise personnel systems were deepened, outstanding women were supported in joining corporate boards of directors, boards of supervisors, and management teams, and efforts were made to ensure that the proportion of female representatives in employee congresses corresponded to the proportion of female employees in the enterprises. In 2024, the proportions of female employee directors and employee supervisors in enterprises were 38.1% and 42.4% respectively, with 0.4 and 0.5 percentage points higher than those in 2023, respectively. The proportion of women in employee congresses was 31.8%, an increase of 0.6 percentage points.

(III) Women participated widely in social organizations. Support and guidance were provided to encourage women's participation in social organizations, training for female professionals and managers within these organizations was strengthened, and attention was given to identifying and cultivating women leaders in social organizations. In 2024, the proportion of women working in social organizations was 44.2%, 1.9 percentage points higher than that in 2023. Women accounted for 27.2% of heads of social organizations, representing an increase of 0.9 percentage points.

V. Women and Social Security

(I) Women's participation in basic medical insurance was safeguarded. A multi-level medical insurance system was improved, the long-term mechanism for enrollment in basic medical insurance was fully implemented, and the universal participation plan was advanced. Restrictions on enrollment based on household registration were further relaxed, subsidies were provided for financially disadvantaged populations to participate in basic medical insurance, and the establishment of a "one-person, one-register" universal enrollment database was promoted to expand coverage accurately and efficiently. Women's rights to participate in the basic medical insurance were continuously consolidated. By the end of 2024, women accounted for 49.1% of the total participants in China's basic medical insurance. Among them, the number of women participating in the basic medical insurance for employees increased by 4.621 million compared with the end of 2023; the number of women participating in basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents accounted for 49.5% of all participants.

(II) The foundation of women's participation in basic endowment insurance was further strengthened. Reforms of the basic endowment insurance system were steadily advanced, the development of a multi-tiered, multi-pillar endowment system was accelerated, the nationwide coordination system for basic endowment insurance was continuously improved, the coverage of basic endowment insurance was steadily expanded, and women's participation in basic endowment insurance was safeguarded. By the end of 2024, 530 million women participated in basic endowment insurance, accounting for 49.3% of the total participants.

(III) The number of women covered by maternity, unemployment and work injury insurance continuously increased. Coverage of maternity insurance was consolidated and expanded, policies under unemployment insurance to stabilize jobs and benefit the public were continuously implemented, the fairness and sustainability of the work injury insurance system were promoted, and social security systems for workers in various forms of employment were improved, resulting in the continuous consolidation of women's rights and interests under all types of insurance. By the end of 2024, the number of women covered by maternity insurance was 110 million, an increase of 2.242 million over the end of 2023. The number of people covered by unemployment insurance reached 105 million, an increase of 1.431 million. The number of people covered by work injury insurance reached 120 million, an increase of 1.426 million.

(IV) The level of assistance for women in need was steadily enhanced. Support for low-income groups was strengthened, eligible individuals were promptly included in the scope of social assistance, subsistence allowance standards were reasonably determined and adjusted, and coordination between subsistence allowances and other social assistance standards was improved, effectively ensuring the basic living needs of women in need. In 2024, the number of recipients of subsistence allowances and people living in extreme poverty in urban and rural areas altogether was 44.662 million, among whom 19.501 million were women, accounting for 43.7%. There were 6.935 million recipients from households on the edge of subsistence allowances, of whom 2.313 million were women, accounting for 33.4%. There were 9.395 million women receiving living allowances for people with disabilities or nursing allowances for people with severe disabilities, accounting for 46% of all recipients of these two types of allowances.

(V) The capacity to provide elderly care services was continuously strengthened. Policies and mechanisms for the development of the elderly care sector and industry were improved, the provision of basic elderly care services was optimized, and community-based elderly care institutions were cultivated. Universal, safety-net, and fundamental elderly care services were effectively provided, and enterprises and other social forces were encouraged and guided to actively participate in the development of the elderly care industry, offering richer services to older adults, including women. By the end of 2024, the number of community-based elderly care institutions and facilities reached 366 thousand, an increase of three thousand compared with the end of 2023; the number of women receiving institutional elderly care services was 821 thousand, an increase of 64 thousand.

VI. Women and Family Building

(I) The marriage and family counseling service system was continuously improved. Efforts were made to explore the establishment of comprehensive marriage and family service guidance centers, and regions with suitable conditions were encouraged and supported to set up marriage and family counseling rooms of different types. Precise and efficient marriage and family counseling services were organized and delivered. Marriage and family counseling services were promoted to reach villages, communities, enterprises, and campuses, making such services more professional and widely accessible. In 2024, 70.8% of marriage registration agencies nationwide provided guidance on marriage and family services, an increase of 5.5 percentage points compared to 2023.

(II) Work to promote family education and family values was further deepened. Excellent family values were promoted through multiple forms and channels, giving full play to the foundational role of family, family education and family values in fostering contemporary social conduct, nurturing a new generation, and strengthening grassroots governance. In 2024, women's federations at all levels commended 12 thousand Five Virtues Families and recommended 721 thousand the "Most Beautiful Families" at all levels across various categories.

VII. Women and the Environment

(1) The safety of drinking water was continuously safeguarded. The Guidelines on Promoting High-Quality Development of the Rural Water Supply were implemented, and a full-chain, whole-process rural drinking water safety system was gradually established, ensuring the safety of drinking water for both urban and rural residents. In 2024, 96.0% of centralized drinking water sources in cities at prefecture level and above met standards. By the end of 2024, access to tap water in rural areas was 94%, an increase of 4 percentage points over the end of 2023.

(II) The rural living environment was continuously improved. The Five-Year Action Plan for the Renovation and Improvement of Rural Living Environment (2021-2025) was vigorously implemented, the coverage of sanitary toilets in rural areas steadily increased, and the overall rural living environment management was significantly enhanced. By the end of 2024, the coverage rate of rural sanitary toilets has reached approximately 76%, an increase of about 1 percentage point over the end of 2023.

VIII. Women and the Law

(I) The system for anti-domestic violence was continuously improved. The Opinions on Strengthening the Implementation of the Domestic Violence Admonition System was issued, specifying the implementation of the admonition system and its coordination with related policies. Active interventions were carried out to resolve family and marital disputes. Relying on relief management institutions, the establishment of shelters for domestic violence victims was strengthened, and the scope of legal aid for them was expanded. In 2024, 6,005 personal safety protection orders were issued for women, and the integrated system for the prevention, handling, and relief of domestic violence was continuously enhanced.

(II) The prevention and crackdown on crimes infringing upon women became more effective. The Action Plan of China against Human Abduction and Trafficking (2021-2030) was thoroughly implemented, special operations targeting the trafficking of women and children were carried out, and crimes against women were strictly punished in accordance with the law. The efficiency and effectiveness of combating crimes against women have continuously improved, safeguarding women's lawful rights and interests. In 2024, 221 cases of abducting and trafficking women were solved throughout the year. In total, 35 thousand rape cases were solved. A total of 17 thousand cases of organizing, forcing, inducing, harboring, or procuring women for prostitution were cracked.

(III) High-quality public legal services benefited more women. Special initiatives providing judicial assistance to women in need were continuously carried out, an expedited channel for judicial aid to women in need was established, and support and assistance for women in need during judicial proceedings were intensified. By the end of 2024 in China, there were 3,094 legal aid organizations, an increase of 28 compared with the end of 2023, and 73 thousand legal aid service stations. In 2024, 356 thousand women received legal aid, and juridical assistance was provided for 34 thousand women by people's courts, people's procuratorates and the juridical administration system. Women's federations at or above the county level dealt with 161 thousand complaints from women and children.

Notes:

[1] The totals or relative figures for certain data may be subject to calculation discrepancies due to rounding and differences in the choice of measurement units.

[2] Senior high education includes both general senior high school education and secondary vocational education, with the latter encompassing data from technician training schools.

[3] Higher education includes postgraduate education, general undergraduate programs, vocational undergraduate and college programs, as well as adult undergraduate and college programs. Data for 2024 do not include online undergraduate and college programs.

[4] General undergraduate and college education includes both the general undergraduate programs and the vocational undergraduate and college programs.

[5] The gender gap in scientific literacy refers to the difference between the percentage of the population with scientific literacy among all male citizens surveyed at 18-69 and the percentage of the population with scientific literacy among all female citizens surveyed at 18-69. "People with scientific literacy" means people who uphold the spirit of science, establish a scientific mindset, master basic scientific methods, understand essential scientific and technological knowledge, and are capable of applying them in making judgments and addressing practical problems.