South Korea vs United States: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary
South Korea
49.6%
in 2024
United States
49.8%
in 2024
South Korea rank
7th
United States rank
6th
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary over time
- South Korea
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 49.8% against 49.6% in South Korea, a difference of 0.2%.
The two have swapped places 6 times across 25 shared years of data; in 1970 it was United States ahead.
South Korea ranks 7th and United States ranks 6th of 129 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Korea | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.3% | 23.8% | 17.5% | United States |
| 1980s | 8.9% | 31.9% | 23.0% | United States |
| 1990s | 13.4% | 45.2% | 31.8% | United States |
| 2000s | 30.3% | 36.9% | 6.6% | United States |
| 2010s | 41.8% | 42.5% | 0.7% | United States |
| 2020s | 47.8% | 48.6% | 0.8% | United States |
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 United States?
- United States, at 49.8% 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 United States?
- 0.2%, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Korea and United States?
- 25 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2024.
- How do South Korea and United States rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
- South Korea ranks 7th and United States ranks 6th 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.
Individual pages
About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.