China Kindergarten Closures Accelerate: 41,500 Kindergartens Shut Down in Three Years
China Kindergarten Closure Wave: 41,500 Preschools Closed in Three Years, 360,000 Teachers Lost Jobs
China is experiencing an unprecedented wave of kindergarten closures as declining birth rates reshape the education landscape. Official data reveals that the number of kindergartens has fallen from 294,800 in 2021 to 253,300 in 2024, a loss of 41,500 institutions in just three years.
The Numbers
- Kindergartens: 294,800 (2021 peak) to 253,300 (2024) — a 14.1% decline
- Private kindergartens hit hardest: 31,200 of the 41,500 closures were private (75%)
- Teacher job losses: Approximately 360,000 kindergarten teachers lost positions
- Case study: One kindergarten went from 300+ students in 2021 to just 43 at closure
Human Impact
The story of 'Qiyue', a teacher with 24 years of experience who lost her job when her kindergarten closed in November 2025, illustrates the human cost. Her kindergarten had 300+ students when she joined in 2021 but only 43 remained at closure, leaving 10 teachers and several staff unemployed.
A 48-year-old kindergarten teacher from Zhejiang province, after applying to every possible position with no success, said: 'I do not know what else I can do. I feel like a useless person.'
Root Causes
- Declining birth rate: China birth rate has fallen dramatically, reducing preschool-age population
- Economic pressure: Parents choosing to have fewer children or delay having children
- Policy shifts: Government pushing for more public kindergartens, squeezing private operators
- Commercialization backlash: Parents rejecting expensive private kindergartens for perceived poor value
Broader Implications
The kindergarten closure wave is the leading edge of a demographic cliff that will cascade through the entire education system — from primary schools to universities — over the next two decades. It signals a fundamental restructuring of China education and childcare industry.
Source: Zhihu / Ministry of Education data — 1.58M views