South Korea vs Singapore: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary

South Korea
49.6%
in 2024
Singapore
53.2%
in 2024
South Korea rank
7th
Singapore rank
4th

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary over time

  • South Korea
  • Singapore
1020304050197019972024

How they compare

Singapore currently reports 53.2% against 49.6% in South Korea, a difference of 3.6%.

That makes Singapore's figure about 1.1 times South Korea's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 21 shared years of data; in 1990 it was South Korea ahead.

South Korea ranks 7th and Singapore ranks 4th of 129 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, South Korea averaged higher in 2 and Singapore in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Korea Singapore Difference Ahead
1990s 17.1% 10.9% 6.2% South Korea
2000s 31.9% 31.5% 0.3% South Korea
2010s 41.8% 42.5% 0.7% Singapore
2020s 47.8% 52.1% 4.2% Singapore

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, South Korea or Singapore?
Singapore, at 53.2% against 49.6% in South Korea as of 2024.
What is the difference in educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary between South Korea and Singapore?
3.6%, with Singapore ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Korea and Singapore?
21 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2024.
How do South Korea and Singapore rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
South Korea ranks 7th and Singapore ranks 4th of 129 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Korea vs Singapore: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-total/korea-rep/singapore/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
129 places, 2,142 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.