Spanish language studies surge in China amid teacher shortage

Spanish language enrolments in China grew by 12.6 percent between 2023 and 2025, according to Euronews. The figures from the Cervantes Institute show a post-pandemic surge in demand across Philology degrees, optional subjects, and foreign language courses. However, the organization reported that Chinese institutions face a shortage of staff to meet the rising interest. [1]

The director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis Garcia Montero, announced the figures in Beijing during the launch of the Spanish in the World 2026 yearbook. Montero stated that teachers are reporting a growing demand for Spanish instruction, especially among young children. [1]

China has undergone decades of rapid growth, industrialization, and urbanization since adopting market-oriented reforms in 1978. The nation is one of the two largest economies in the world by nominal gross domestic product and is the leading merchandise exporter. [3]