Falling Birth Rates Turn Vacant Schools into Elderly Care Facilities in China
Declining birth rates and a shrinking child population are leading to significant changes in how China uses its educational facilities. As student numbers fall, some vacant primary schools and kindergartens are being converted into elderly care centres, nursing homes, and community facilities.
According to data from China’s Ministry of Education, new primary school enrolments and the number of children in preschool education institutions both fell by around 10% in 2025. During the same period, the total number of educational institutions across the country declined by more than 6%, falling to 440,700.
The decline in student numbers has left school buildings underused, particularly in some regions. Local governments and communities are now adapting these facilities to meet the needs of the country’s rapidly ageing population. Some former classrooms are being converted into elderly care centres and nursing homes, while other school buildings are being repurposed as social service facilities, including community dining halls. In this way, local authorities are incorporating school buildings originally designed to serve children into a growing network of services for older adults and local communities.