Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in South Korea
South Korea: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 44.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in South Korea, 2003–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 44.5% for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in 2024. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in South Korea peaked at 44.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 22.2%, in 2003.
South Korea ranks 27th of 111 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in South Korea, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 22.2% | — |
| 2004 | 23.1% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 26.2% | +13.1% |
| 2007 | 27.8% | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 29.3% | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 32.6% | +11.1% |
| 2012 | 33.7% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 34.8% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 35.8% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 37.4% | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 38.3% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 39.4% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 40.3% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 40.9% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 41.5% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 42.3% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 43.5% | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 44.5% | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 25.7% | 22.2% | 29.3% | 5 |
| 2010s | 36.5% | 32.6% | 40.3% | 8 |
| 2020s | 42.5% | 40.9% | 44.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More education data for South Korea
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 132,721 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 40,412 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.23 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -0.0122 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 1.50 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -2.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in South Korea?
- Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in South Korea was 44.5% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 44.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.2% in 2003.
- How does South Korea rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
- South Korea ranks 27th out of 111 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.5%. 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 completed post-secondary, 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 post-secondary non-tertiary education.