White Paper highlights China's achievements in women's development

China has released a white paper titled China's Achievements in Women's Well-Rounded Development in the New Era, detailing comprehensive progress in gender equality and women's advancement across multiple sectors.

According to the white paper, by the end of 2020, China had eradicated absolute poverty nationwide, achieving the poverty reduction target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ten years ahead of schedule. Women were identified as a key group in targeted poverty alleviation programs, with expanding access to income-generating opportunities and entrepreneurship support.

Women's health conditions have improved remarkably. In 2020, their average life expectancy rose to 80.9 years, and China's maternal, infant, and under-five mortality rates ranked among the top in upper-middle-income countries.

Educational attainment has continued to rise. In 2024, girls accounted for 47.3 percent of children in kindergartens and 49.3 percent of senior high school students. Women made up over half of students in higher education institutions, marking steady progress toward gender balance in learning opportunities.

Social protection coverage has expanded significantly. As of 2024, 651 million women were enrolled in basic medical insurance, 105 million in unemployment insurance, and 111 million in maternity insurance—showing stronger institutional guarantees for women's livelihoods and health.

Survey data also reveal continued improvement in family life. Ninety percent of wives now take part in major household decisions, with narrowing gender gaps in domestic labor and growing mutual respect within families.

The white paper underscores that women's all-round development reflects both China's modernization progress and its enduring commitment to gender equality in the new era.