Chinese primary schools lose 17 million pupils in five years

China’s primary schools have lost 17 million pupils over five years.

The figure describes a fall in the number of children enrolled, not a stated number of schools closing.

The change is across China, though no regions or individual schools are identified.

The scale of the drop means primary schools now serve far fewer pupils than they did five years earlier.

The available information gives no reason for the decline, so it does not explain what caused it.

It also does not say what happens next or whether the decline is expected to continue.