The figures, released by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday, come amid a structural shrinkage in the cohort of college-age Chinese teenagers, compounded by a challenging job market with youth unemployment exceeding 16% for those aged 16 to 24.
Analysts expect unemployment figures to worsen as a record 12.7 million university graduates are set to enter the labor market this summer.
Second year of decline in registrations
It is the second consecutive year of decline in registrations for the national exam, known as the gaokao, following last year's drop of 70,000 from 2024. This year's exam is due to begin on Sunday.
The ministry did not comment on the declining numbers, while saying it would "resolutely crack down on illegal and irregular activities such as false publicity, high fees, organizing fraud or cheating."
