China's Health Literacy Rate Surges to 32% in 2024

China's Health Literacy Rate Reaches Nearly 32% in 2024

China's health literacy rate has witnessed a significant increase, reaching nearly 32% in 2024. This represents a year-on-year growth of over two percentage points, driven by the public's growing focus on personal health and the government's continuous efforts to promote health education.

The latest data indicates that approximately three in ten individuals in China possess basic health knowledge and skills. This marks a substantial improvement from 2012 when the health literacy rate stood at a mere 8.8%. The rate has steadily climbed over the years, reaching 23.15% in 2020 and exceeding 30% for the first time in 2024.

This positive trend is attributed to the public's increasing awareness of the importance of health and the rising demand for health knowledge. Additionally, the government's ongoing efforts to enhance health education have played a crucial role in this progress.

The gap in health literacy between urban and rural areas has narrowed considerably. While urban areas boast a rate of 34.74%, rural regions follow closely at 29.11%. Although the less developed western and central provinces still lag behind the eastern part of the nation, the disparity has shrunk significantly.

A nationwide survey conducted in 2024 involving over 71,800 individuals aged 15 to 69 across all provinces assessed the public's understanding of basic health-related knowledge and skills. The survey covered topics such as the importance of cancer screening, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and knowledge about chronic and infectious diseases.

The results revealed that the Chinese population demonstrated the highest level of understanding in the area of safety and first aid, with a literacy rate of nearly 62%. However, their grasp of health information on chronic and infectious diseases remained relatively weaker, hovering around 30%.

Recognizing the significance of health literacy in improving public health outcomes, the Chinese government has intensified its efforts to enhance the public's understanding of key health information. The authorities consider health literacy as the most fundamental, cost-effective, and impactful measure to elevate the overall health of the population.

In June 2023, the National Health Commission, along with other government departments, launched an action plan aiming to increase the national health literacy rate by two percentage points annually from 2024 to 2027. This plan encompasses initiatives such as expanding the availability of health education materials, launching awareness campaigns, and strengthening measures to combat online misinformation.