Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea: Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ was 96.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
96.4%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
55th
of 135 countries
All-time high
96.4%
in 2024
All-time low
53.9%
in 1970
Years of data
26
1970–2024

Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Republic of Korea, 1970–2024

0204060801001970199720241970: 53.9 cumulative1985: 78.1 cumulative1990: 82.7 cumulative1995: 84.1 cumulative2000: 87.3 cumulative2004: 90.1 cumulative2005: 89.6 cumulative2006: 91.2 cumulative2007: 91.7 cumulative2008: 92 cumulative2009: 86.3 cumulative2010: 91.2 cumulative2011: 92.9 cumulative2012: 93.4 cumulative2013: 93.8 cumulative2014: 94.2 cumulative2015: 92.8 cumulative2016: 94.6 cumulative2017: 94.7 cumulative2018: 94.9 cumulative2019: 95 cumulative2020: 95.2 cumulative2021: 95.5 cumulative2022: 95.8 cumulative2023: 96.2 cumulative2024: 96.4 cumulative

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.

Analysis

Republic of Korea recorded 96.4% for educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in 2024. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Republic of Korea peaked at 96.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 53.9%, in 1970.

That places Republic of Korea 55th out of 135 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.

Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Republic of Korea, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, female (%) (cumulative) in Republic of Korea, 1970 to 2024.
Year cumulative Change
1970 53.9%
1985 78.1% +45.0%
1990 82.7% +5.9%
1995 84.1% +1.7%
2000 87.3% +3.8%
2004 90.1% +3.2%
2005 89.6% -0.6%
2006 91.2% +1.8%
2007 91.7% +0.5%
2008 92.0% +0.3%
2009 86.3% -6.2%
2010 91.2% +5.8%
2011 92.9% +1.9%
2012 93.4% +0.5%
2013 93.8% +0.4%
2014 94.2% +0.5%
2015 92.8% -1.5%
2016 94.6% +1.9%
2017 94.7% +0.1%
2018 94.9% +0.2%
2019 95.0% +0.2%
2020 95.2% +0.2%
2021 95.5% +0.4%
2022 95.8% +0.3%
2023 96.2% +0.4%
2024 96.4% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 53.9% 53.9% 53.9% 1
1980s 78.1% 78.1% 78.1% 1
1990s 83.4% 82.7% 84.1% 2
2000s 89.7% 86.3% 92.0% 7
2010s 93.8% 91.2% 95.0% 10
2020s 95.8% 95.2% 96.4% 5

Countries ranked near Republic of Korea

  1. 52 Mongolia 96.7% compare
  2. 53 Oman 96.7% compare
  3. 54 Greece 96.6% compare
  4. 56 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 96.3% compare
  5. 57 Cyprus 96.3% compare
  6. 58 Canada 96.3% compare

See the full ranking of 135 places →

More education data for Republic of Korea

All data for Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Republic of Korea?
Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Republic of Korea was 96.4% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ recorded in Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 96.4% in 2024.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ recorded in Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 53.9% in 1970.
How does Republic of Korea rank for educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+?
Republic of Korea ranks 55th out of 135 countries with data for 2024.
Is educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. 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 primary, population 25+ years, female (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-primary-population-25-years-female-percent/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, female (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
135 places, 2,219 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed primary education.