South Korea vs Sweden: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling
South Korea
12.72 years
in 2023
Sweden
12.74 years
in 2023
South Korea rank
25th
Sweden rank
24th
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling over time
- South Korea
- Sweden
How they compare
Sweden currently reports 12.74 years against 12.72 years in South Korea, a difference of 0.02 years.
Across all 34 years both countries report, Sweden has been ahead every year.
South Korea ranks 25th and Sweden ranks 24th of 192 countries.
Sweden has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Korea | Sweden | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.9 years | 10.43 years | 0.5283 years | Sweden |
| 2000s | 10.96 years | 12.03 years | 1.07 years | Sweden |
| 2010s | 12.08 years | 12.38 years | 0.3009 years | Sweden |
| 2020s | 12.7 years | 12.72 years | 0.0274 years | Sweden |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling, South Korea or Sweden?
- Sweden, at 12.74 years against 12.72 years in South Korea as of 2023.
- What is the difference in average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling between South Korea and Sweden?
- 0.02 years, with Sweden ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Korea and Sweden?
- 34 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2023.
- How do South Korea and Sweden rank globally for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- South Korea ranks 25th and Sweden ranks 24th of 192 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.