Germany vs South Korea: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

Germany
3.27 million
in 2024
South Korea
2.73 million
in 2024
Germany rank
15th
South Korea rank
18th

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes over time

  • Germany
  • South Korea
01.0M2.0M3.0M197119972024

How they compare

Germany currently reports 3.27 million against 2.73 million in South Korea, a difference of 542,570.

That makes Germany's figure about 1.2 times South Korea's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 19 shared years of data; in 1991 it was Germany ahead.

Germany ranks 15th and South Korea ranks 18th of 200 countries.

Across the 3 decades both report, Germany averaged higher in 2 and South Korea in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Germany South Korea Difference Ahead
1990s 2.11 million 2.06 million 51,511 Germany
2010s 3.03 million 3.20 million 165,736 South Korea
2020s 3.32 million 2.84 million 476,448 Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, Germany or South Korea?
Germany, at 3.27 million against 2.73 million in South Korea as of 2024.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between Germany and South Korea?
542,570, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and South Korea?
19 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2024.
How do Germany and South Korea rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
Germany ranks 15th and South Korea ranks 18th of 200 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Germany vs South Korea: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/germany/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
421 places, 18,321 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release