China Ranks a Close Second in Global STEM Education Index
China has secured an impressive second place in the inaugural Global STEM Education Development Index 2025, published by Tongji University’s STEM Education think tank. With a score of 85.46, China trails just behind the United States, which scored 86.50. The rankings evaluated 40 countries across 22 indicators, including resources, educational processes, and outcomes, drawing on data from Elsevier and guidance from the Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy.
Despite falling just short of the US, China exhibited particular strength in areas like teacher competency, student achievement, and graduate production. In contrast, the US maintained a lead through extensive institutional funding, especially per-student expenditure and budget allocation. China’s outperformance of the US in educational processes highlights its rapid advancement in key operational aspects of STEM education.
On the domestic front, China’s focus on artificial intelligence (AI) in education is becoming a national priority. A recent Ministry of Education framework has introduced AI into curricula at all schooling levels, while the number of universities offering AI-related degrees has surged to over 600—a sharp increase from just 35 in 2018. These initiatives reinforce China’s strengthening position in STEM on the global stage
