Spanish language enrollment surges in China

Enrollments in Spanish language studies in China, including philology degrees and foreign language courses, increased by 12.6% between 2023 and 2025. This post-pandemic surge has led to a growing shortage of qualified teaching staff.

According to the 'Spanish in the World 2026' yearbook presented by the Cervantes Institute in Beijing, China is approaching 98,000 potential Spanish speakers. This group includes approximately 18,000 native residents and 66,000 students. The language is currently offered in 31 Chinese cities, and 98% of the country's universities provide degrees in Hispanic Philology.

Luis García Montero, director of the Cervantes Institute, noted that while Spanish is gaining significant ground in business, engineering, and science, there is a concerning decline in the study of humanities. He emphasized the need to prioritize teacher training to meet the rising demand.