Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 49.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Republic of Korea, 2003–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Republic of Korea is 49.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Republic of Korea peaked at 49.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 29.5%, in 2003.
Republic of Korea ranks 17th of 110 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 Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 29.5% | — |
| 2004 | 30.5% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 33.2% | +8.7% |
| 2007 | 34.7% | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 36.1% | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 39.3% | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 40.3% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 41.3% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 42.3% | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 43.7% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 44.4% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 45.3% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 46.0% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 46.5% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 46.9% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 47.5% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 48.7% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 49.6% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.8% | 29.5% | 36.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | 42.8% | 39.3% | 46.0% | 8 |
| 2020s | 47.8% | 46.5% | 49.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 14 Latvia 50.7% compare
- 15 South Africa 50.7% compare
- 16 United States of America 49.8% compare
- 18 Estonia 49.5% compare
- 19 Israel 49.5% compare
- 20 Luxembourg 48.5% compare
More education data for Republic of Korea
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 173,133 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.5% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 10.2% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 100.87 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 100.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Republic of Korea?
- Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Republic of Korea was 49.6% 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 Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 49.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.5% in 2003.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
- Republic of Korea ranks 17th out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of 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+, total (%) (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.