China Child Care Market Overview, 2030

The child care services market in China has undergone significant transformations over the years, shaped by shifting governmental policies, demographic changes, and evolving societal attitudes. Historically, China’s one-child policy, implemented in 1980, had a profound impact on family structures and child-rearing practices, limiting the number of children per household and reinforcing the importance of investing in a single child's upbringing. However, as concerns over declining birth rates and an aging population intensified, the government introduced measures to encourage higher birth rates, including financial incentives and relaxed family planning regulations. Despite these efforts, China’s birth rate has continued to decline, reaching a record low of 6.39 births per 1,000 people in 2023. One of the key factors contributing to this trend is the high cost of raising a child, which has become a major concern for many families. Studies indicate that the cost of raising a child until the age of 18 in China is approximately 6.3 times the per capita GDP, a stark contrast to 2.08 times in Australia and 2.24 times in the U.S. This economic burden has led many parents to carefully evaluate their child care options, heightening the demand for accessible, affordable, and high-quality services. As more families struggle to balance work and child-rearing responsibilities, the need for reliable child care solutions has become increasingly critical, prompting both public and private stakeholders to invest in expanding and improving service offerings across the country. As China navigates its evolving demographic landscape, the child care sector is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the country’s future workforce, fostering economic stability, and supporting the well-being of families across the nation.

According to the research report, “China Child Care Services Market Overview, 2030,” published by Bonafide Research, the China child care services market is anticipated to grow at more than 5.45% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. The Chinese child care services market is experiencing robust growth, fueled by factors such as increasing urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and a growing awareness of the long-term benefits of early childhood education. This rapid expansion presents lucrative opportunities for both domestic and international providers seeking to establish a presence in China's evolving child care landscape. Key players in the market include 3e International School, Beanstalk Education Group, and Etonkids International Educational Group, among others. These organizations are capitalizing on the increasing demand for structured and high-quality early education programs, offering a variety of services that cater to different parental preferences and educational philosophies. In addition to traditional preschools and daycare centers, many providers are introducing innovative programs that incorporate bilingual education, STEM-focused curricula, and digital learning tools to enhance children's developmental experiences. The expansion of premium and international child care institutions further reflects China’s rising middle-class aspirations, as many parents are willing to invest in specialized programs that promise long-term academic and cognitive advantages for their children. However, despite these advancements, affordability remains a major challenge, particularly for lower-income families who may struggle to access high-quality services. The government has taken steps to bridge this gap by subsidizing public daycare centers and promoting the establishment of community-based child care facilities, but disparities in accessibility and quality persist across urban and rural areas. Addressing these disparities will be crucial in ensuring that all children, regardless of socio-economic background, have access to the developmental benefits of early childhood education.

The Chinese child care services market offers a diverse range of care options, allowing families to choose solutions that best fit their needs, schedules, and educational priorities. One of the most common forms of child care in China is daycare services, which provide full-time supervision and structured learning environments for young children. These facilities are particularly popular among working parents who require dependable care options during standard business hours. Preschools and early education programs play an equally important role, focusing on preparing children for formal schooling by emphasizing cognitive development, social skills, and foundational academic knowledge. Many of these programs follow structured curricula designed to align with China’s rigorous educational standards, ensuring that children develop the necessary skills to succeed in primary school and beyond. Additionally, after-school care services cater to school-aged children, offering homework assistance, extracurricular activities, and social engagement opportunities beyond regular school hours. These programs have become increasingly valuable for families juggling demanding work schedules, as they provide a safe and enriching environment for children while parents fulfill professional obligations. In contrast, nanny and babysitting services remain a relatively less common option in China compared to Western countries, as many families prefer institutional child care due to its structured approach and perceived reliability. However, with changing work patterns and increasing demand for flexible care arrangements, personalized in-home child care solutions are gradually gaining traction, particularly among high-income families seeking individualized attention for their children. The diversity of child care options available in China underscores the importance of regulatory oversight to maintain quality standards and ensure that services meet the evolving needs of modern families.

Service providers in China's child care market can be broadly categorized into organized facilities and unorganized or informal providers, each serving distinct segments of the population. Organized providers include licensed daycare centers, preschools, and corporate child care facilities, all of which must comply with government regulations to ensure the safety, education, and well-being of children. These institutions are typically preferred by parents due to their structured programs, trained educators, and adherence to standardized quality measures. On the other hand, unorganized or informal providers encompass unlicensed home-based caregivers and community-run child care services, which offer more flexible and often more affordable alternatives. While these informal options can be convenient, they may lack standardized oversight, leading to concerns regarding safety, staff qualifications, and the overall quality of care. In recent years, an emerging trend in China’s child care sector has been the rise of corporate child care initiatives, where companies establish on-site daycare facilities to support employees with young children. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the importance of work-life balance and employer-supported child care solutions in improving workforce productivity and employee satisfaction. By investing in child care services, companies can attract and retain talent, particularly among working mothers who might otherwise struggle to balance professional responsibilities with family obligations. As this trend continues, corporate-backed child care solutions are expected to play an increasingly influential role in shaping the future of China’s child care landscape, further integrating child care into the country’s broader economic and social policies.

The Chinese child care services market is also structured around age-specific segmentation, ensuring that children receive appropriate developmental support at each stage of their early years. Infant care (0–1 year) primarily focuses on creating a safe and nurturing environment, emphasizing basic care needs, sensory stimulation, and early bonding experiences. For toddlers (1–3 years), structured activities are introduced to foster language acquisition, motor skill development, and early social interactions. Preschool programs (3–5 years) place a stronger emphasis on cognitive growth, literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills, preparing children for formal schooling. Meanwhile, school-aged children (6–12 years) benefit from after-school programs that provide academic reinforcement, recreational activities, and peer interaction opportunities. This segmentation ensures that child care services align with children's developmental milestones, fostering well-rounded growth and educational readiness. Additionally, a growing demand for specialized early education programs, including bilingual immersion schools and STEM-based learning initiatives, reflects China's increasing emphasis on equipping children with competitive skills from an early age. The integration of technology into child care services, such as AI-assisted learning tools and digital communication platforms for parents, further underscores the sector's evolution in response to modern educational trends. the child care services market in China is experiencing substantial growth, driven by demographic shifts, economic development, and changing parental expectations regarding early childhood education.



Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Child Care Services Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type of Care
• Daycare Services
• Preschool/Early Education
• After-School Care
• Nanny and Babysitting Services

By Service Provider
• Organized Facilities
• Unorganized/Informal Providers
• Corporate Child Care

By Age Group
• Infants (0–1 year)
• Toddlers (1–3 years)
• Preschoolers (3–5 years)
• School-Aged Children (6–12 years)

By End-User
• Parents
• Institutions /Corporations

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to agriculture industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.