Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Korea
South Korea: Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population was 41.6% 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 41.6% 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 1.6% on the previous year and up 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Korea peaked at 41.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 29.0%, in 2003.
South Korea ranks 4th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 | 29.0% | — |
| 2004 | 29.3% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 29.9% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 30.7% | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 31.3% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 32.3% | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 33.1% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 29.3% | -11.3% |
| 2011 | 34.0% | +15.9% |
| 2012 | 34.4% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 35.2% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 36.4% | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 33.4% | -8.2% |
| 2016 | 37.9% | +13.2% |
| 2017 | 38.1% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 38.9% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 39.2% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 39.2% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 39.6% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 39.6% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 41.0% | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 41.6% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.8% | 29.0% | 33.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 35.7% | 29.3% | 39.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.2% | 39.2% | 41.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 1 United Arab Emirates 50.3% compare
- 2 Switzerland 46.1% compare
- 3 Luxembourg 43.1% compare
- 5 Ireland 39.3% compare
- 6 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 38.2% compare
- 7 Singapore 38.2% compare
More education data for South Korea
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.51 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -4.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0484 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.51 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -4.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0484 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.22 million (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 41.6% 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 41.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.0% in 2003.
- How does South Korea rank for educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population?
- South Korea ranks 4th out of 112 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 14.2%. 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+, male (%) (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.