In 2025, the number of elementary school students in China decreased by 4.06 million compared to 2024, leading to many elementary school buildings standing vacant. This decline has resulted in numerous elementary schools being repurposed into nursing homes. Meanwhile, the elderly population in China continues to grow.
According to a report by “Financial News” on September 12th, statistics released by the Chinese Ministry of Education revealed that in 2025, there were a total of 128,300 regular elementary schools nationwide, along with 42,300 unofficial teaching points for elementary schools (schools without official status, typically with fewer than 100 students). The total enrollment in elementary schools across the country was 146.17 million, with 101.78 million students attending school and 18.61 million students graduating. In contrast, in 2024, there were 136,300 regular elementary schools in China, with 52,200 unofficial teaching points. The total enrollment in elementary schools was 161.66 million, with 105.84 million students attending school and 18.57 million students graduating.
Compared to the previous year, the number of regular elementary schools decreased by 8,000 and the unofficial teaching points decreased by 9,900 in 2025. The number of elementary school students decreased by 4.06 million. Over the span of five years, from 2020 (158,000 schools), the number of regular elementary schools had decreased by 29,700. The decline in the number of elementary school students had already begun in 2023.
As the number of students decreased, school buildings were left vacant. Many unused elementary schools have been repurposed into nursing homes, senior centers, and elderly dining facilities, as reported.
For example, in Junzijian Village, Shanyang County, Shaanxi Province, Junzijian Elementary School has been transformed into a nursing home for the elderly. As of the fall of 2025, Nanping City, Fujian Province, had 601 vacant school buildings, with 20 of them being used for public welfare purposes such as nursing homes, welfare institutions, and dining facilities for the elderly. Additionally, measures to repurpose unused elementary school buildings have been implemented in Hunan Province and Yunnan Province, with some being converted into industrial plants, art studios, family farms, and more.
Simultaneously with the decline in elementary school student numbers, the elderly population is on the rise. According to the “2025 National Development Report on Aging” released by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs and the National Aging Office on July 31st, by the end of 2025, there were 323.38 million people aged 60 and above in China, accounting for 23% of the total population; 223.65 million people aged 65 and above, accounting for 15.9% of the total population; and a dependency ratio of 23.1% for those aged 65 and above.
Compared to 2024, in 2025, there was an increase of about 13.07 million people aged 60 and above, with the proportion of the elderly population rising from 22.0% to 23.0%, an increase of 1 percentage point. This indicates that China’s elderly population is rapidly growing by over 10 million people annually, demonstrating a significant pace of aging.
According to international standards, a population aged 65 and above comprising 7% or a population aged 60 and above comprising 10% signifies an aging society. A population aged 65 and above exceeding 14% or a population aged 60 and above exceeding 20% indicates a moderately aged society. If the population aged 65 and above surpasses 20% or the population aged 60 and above exceeds 30%, society enters a super-aged society (ultra-aging society).
Public data shows that in China and some Asian countries, the official age for measuring aging typically begins at 60 and above. With China’s population aged 60 and above already exceeding 23%, the country is transitioning from a moderately aged to a heavily aged society.