GITNUX MARKETDATA REPORT 2024
Chinese Learning Duration Statistics
The average duration for learning Chinese varies depending on the individual's background, with estimates ranging from 1-2 years for basic proficiency to 10+ years for fluency.
In this post, we’ll explore a plethora of statistics related to the duration and challenges of learning Mandarin Chinese. From the approximate hours required for fluency to the retention rates of students, and the popularity of Chinese learning worldwide, these data points provide valuable insights into the journey of mastering this complex language. Whether you’re considering taking up Mandarin or are already on your Chinese learning path, these statistics offer a comprehensive overview of what to expect and the milestones to strive for along the way.
Statistic 1
"According to Babbel, it takes approximately 2200 class hours for a native English speaker to reach fluency in Mandarin Chinese;"
Statistic 2
"The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) categorizes Chinese as a Category IV language, with 88 weeks (2200 hours) of study to reach general professional proficiency in speaking and reading;"
Statistic 3
"According to British Council, 1 in 5 of the world's population speaks some form of Chinese;"
Statistic 4
"As per Odiogo, UK schoolchildren who spend one hour per week studying Chinese for four years reach a vocabulary of 347 words;"
Statistic 5
"A point of view by The Chairman’s Bao says learning Chinese has a retention rate of 7% for students only learning in class, improving to around 75% when all practice is combined;"
Statistic 6
"The Economist estimates that reaching basic proficiency in Mandarin Chinese is possible in about 48 weeks of intensive study;"
Statistic 7
"According to Q Language, an intensive Mandarin course requires a daily study routine of 4-6 hours;"
Statistic 8
"The EF blog readers consider Mandarin Chinese one of the most difficult languages to learn, with an approximate learning duration of 96 weeks for an English speaker;"
Statistic 9
"The Simya Solutions Blog states that one should aim to learn 10-15 words per day in order to become fluent in Mandarin Chinese in 5-7 years;"
Statistic 10
"The Chinesehour states that it takes 4800 hours to learn Chinese to a proficient level;"
Statistic 11
"Live Lingua mentions that it takes up to 2200 hours for an English speaker to become fluent in Chinese;"
Statistic 12
"According to Transparent Language, a student can learn the 5,000 most common words in Chinese in about 500 hours of study;"
Statistic 13
"Study International states that it takes an average of 17 weeks of Full-Time immersive study to reach conversational Mandarin Chinese proficiency;"
Statistic 14
"Andreessen Horowitz reports that there is a 94% increase in app-based Chinese learning;"
Statistic 15
"According to Go Overseas, an estimated 40,000 non-Chinese study Mandarin in China each year, for varying lengths of time;"
Statistic 16
"BBC reports that Mandarin Chinese is the most taught foreign language in schools in the UK, indicating an increasing number of hours learning Chinese among UK students;"
Statistic 17
"As per Statista, the number of people learning Chinese in Australia increased by approximately 10 percent between 2008 and 2017;"
Jannik Lindner
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The statistics are checked by us and then entered into the database. Our market data reports have been linked to by some of the largest publishers and companies on the Internet.
