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China's Communist Youth League expands to 78 million members in 2025

A historic surge in recruitment reshapes China's youth engagement. Schools and universities now host over 41 million members—what's driving this rapid expansion?

The image shows a large group of people walking down a street, holding banners and placards with...
The image shows a large group of people walking down a street, holding banners and placards with text on them. On the right side of the image, there are trees and buildings with glass walls, and on the left side there are vehicles on the road. There are also poles and sign boards with text, indicating that this is a protest in Hong Kong.

China's Communist Youth League expands to 78 million members in 2025

The Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) saw significant growth in 2025. By the end of the year, its membership had risen to around 78.34 million. The organisation also expanded its presence across schools, colleges and universities nationwide.

The CYLC added roughly 9.14 million new members over the course of 2025. This surge brought the total number of members to nearly 78.34 million by December.

At the same time, the league increased its network of local branches. The number of CYLC organisations reached about 5.15 million across China. A large portion—around 2.35 million—were based in educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities. These campus groups alone accounted for over 41.83 million members.

The expansion means the CYLC now operates in more locations than before. Its membership has grown by millions, with a strong focus on student involvement. The league’s reach continues to widen across educational and community settings.

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