Japan vs South Korea: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes

Japan
80,767 number
in 2018
South Korea
74,750 number
in 2018
Japan rank
11th
South Korea rank
12th

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes over time

  • Japan
  • South Korea
20.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k199720072018

How they compare

Japan currently reports 80,767 number against 74,750 number in South Korea, a difference of 6,017 number.

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

The two have swapped places 2 times across 21 shared years of data; in 1998 it was Japan ahead.

Japan ranks 11th and South Korea ranks 12th of 133 countries.

Japan has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Japan South Korea Difference Ahead
1990s 53,894 number 27,608 number 26,286 number Japan
2000s 70,007 number 40,610 number 29,397 number Japan
2010s 75,725 number 67,480 number 8,245 number Japan

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes, Japan or South Korea?
Japan, at 80,767 number against 74,750 number in South Korea as of 2018.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes between Japan and South Korea?
6,017 number, with Japan ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and South Korea?
21 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2018.
How do Japan and South Korea rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes?
Japan ranks 11th and South Korea ranks 12th of 133 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Japan vs South Korea: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-isced-8-programmes-both-sexes-number/japan/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
178 places, 2,921 data points, 1997–2020
Last refreshed

Total number of students enrolled in public and private tertiary education institutions in programmes on the doctoral or equivalent (ISCED 8) level.