Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Korea
South Korea: Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population was 31.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Korea, 2003–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 31.4% for educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population in 2024. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 31.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Korea peaked at 31.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 2003.
South Korea ranks 28th of 109 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Korea, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 15.3% | — |
| 2004 | 15.6% | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 16.4% | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 17.4% | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 18.5% | +6.1% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 20.2% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 19.7% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 21.0% | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 21.5% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 22.6% | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 24.0% | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 24.1% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 25.9% | +7.4% |
| 2017 | 26.4% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 27.4% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 28.2% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 28.7% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 29.0% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 29.6% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 30.5% | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 31.4% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.5% | 15.3% | 20.2% | 7 |
| 2010s | 24.1% | 19.7% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.8% | 28.7% | 31.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More education data for South Korea
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.22 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -4.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0236 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.29 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -4.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0248 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 173,133 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7853 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Korea?
- Educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Korea was 31.4% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 31.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 2003.
- How does South Korea rank for educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population?
- South Korea ranks 28th out of 109 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Bachelor's or equivalent.