Children in China: An Atlas of Social Indicators 2024

Highlights

The 2024 edition of the Children in China: An Atlas of Social Indicators is the fourth Atlas since its inaugural in 2010. Each edition of the Atlas compiled indicators closely related to child development in China, aiming to reflect China’s socio-economic development, demographic transition and policy reform at different stages. It strives to comprehensively present new situation and issues facing children amidst changes, while highlighting the achievements, opportunities as well as the remaining challenges in improving the survival, development and protection of all children, equitably.

The 2024 Atlas continued the approach of previous editions, primarily using the official statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics and other government departments, as well as authoritative data and information of international organizations. It seeks better data disaggregation and more detailed interpretation, presenting data and information in a visually appealing manner. The purpose is to provide the latest reference to government departments, development partners, and the general public to understand the state of child development in China.

At the same time, the 2024 Atlas builds upon topics covered in the previous editions, including population, economic and social development, maternal and child health, nutrition, environmental health, education, the rights of children and women, children affected by migration, and children with disabilities, while providing new perspectives. It also introduces new topics of growing concern, including adolescent health, childhood overweight and obesity, climate change, and vocational education.

China is a country with a large child population, making its role highly significant in the realization of child-related goals in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2024 Atlas has therefore strengthened its alignment with the corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and indicators, so that the readers can better understand China’s progress in achieving the SDGs, its contribution to global efforts, as well as remaining challenges.

Our hope is that the 2024 Atlas lays a strong foundation for further analysis and research, as well as evidence-based actions. We aspire for it to not only spark thoughtful discussions, but also continue to drive child-related policy making, enhancement, and implementation that change the lives of children and their families for the better.

UNICEF remains a proud partner to the Government of China, united by a shared vision to address persistent in-country disparities and vulnerabilities faced by children. Together we strive to ensure that all children survive, thrive and develop to their fullest potential.