Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea: Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population was 5.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
5.1%
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
44th
of 81 countries
All-time high
5.1%
in 2024
All-time low
2.8%
in 2003
Years of data
22
2003–2024

Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in Republic of Korea, 2003–2024

02462003201320242003: 2.8 cumulative2004: 2.9 cumulative2005: 3 cumulative2006: 3.1 cumulative2007: 3.1 cumulative2008: 3.5 cumulative2009: 3.6 cumulative2010: 3.5 cumulative2011: 3.7 cumulative2012: 3.8 cumulative2013: 4 cumulative2014: 4.2 cumulative2015: 4.4 cumulative2016: 4.4 cumulative2017: 4.5 cumulative2018: 4.6 cumulative2019: 4.6 cumulative2020: 4.5 cumulative2021: 4.4 cumulative2022: 4.6 cumulative2023: 4.9 cumulative2024: 5.1 cumulative

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in Republic of Korea is 5.1%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in Republic of Korea peaked at 5.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2003.

Republic of Korea ranks 44th of 81 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in Republic of Korea, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative) in Republic of Korea, 2003 to 2024.
Year cumulative Change
2003 2.8%
2004 2.9% +6.6%
2005 3.0% +1.5%
2006 3.1% +3.1%
2007 3.1% +1.7%
2008 3.5% +12.4%
2009 3.6% +2.6%
2010 3.5% -1.9%
2011 3.7% +4.7%
2012 3.8% +3.3%
2013 4.0% +3.3%
2014 4.2% +5.7%
2015 4.4% +6.3%
2016 4.4% -0.5%
2017 4.5% +1.8%
2018 4.6% +2.9%
2019 4.6% -0.2%
2020 4.5% -2.2%
2021 4.4% -1.8%
2022 4.6% +3.4%
2023 4.9% +5.8%
2024 5.1% +4.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3.1% 2.8% 3.6% 7
2010s 4.2% 3.5% 4.6% 10
2020s 4.7% 4.4% 5.1% 5

Countries ranked near Republic of Korea

  1. 41 Portugal 6.3% compare
  2. 42 Bahrain 5.8% compare
  3. 43 Brunei Darussalam 5.2% compare
  4. 45 Colombia 4.6% compare
  5. 46 Saudi Arabia 4.4% compare
  6. 47 Iran, Islamic Republic of 4.3% compare

See the full ranking of 81 places →

More education data for Republic of Korea

All data for Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in Republic of Korea?
Educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in Republic of Korea was 5.1% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population recorded in Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 5.1% in 2024.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population recorded in Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2003.
How does Republic of Korea rank for educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population?
Republic of Korea ranks 44th out of 81 countries with data for 2024.
Is educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. 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 Master's or equivalent, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-master-s-or-equivalent-population-25-total-percent/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
81 places, 899 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Master's or equivalent.