Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population was 97.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Republic of Korea, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Republic of Korea stood at 97.9%. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Republic of Korea peaked at 97.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 65.7%, in 1970.
Republic of Korea ranks 58th of 136 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 65.7% | — |
| 1975 | 74.8% | +13.9% |
| 1980 | 80.3% | +7.3% |
| 1990 | 89.0% | +10.9% |
| 1995 | 90.3% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 92.5% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 93.9% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 93.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 94.6% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 95.0% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 95.1% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 93.7% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 95.3% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 95.7% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 96.1% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 96.3% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 96.5% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 96.5% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 96.7% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 96.8% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 97.0% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 97.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 97.1% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 97.3% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 97.5% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 97.7% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 97.9% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 70.2% | 65.7% | 74.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 80.3% | 80.3% | 80.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 89.7% | 89.0% | 90.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 94.1% | 92.5% | 95.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 96.4% | 95.3% | 97.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 97.5% | 97.1% | 97.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 55 Puerto Rico 98.0% compare
- 56 Indonesia 98.0% compare
- 57 Philippines 98.0% compare
- 59 North Macedonia 97.8% compare
- 60 Bosnia and Herzegovina 97.8% compare
- 61 Samoa 97.7% compare
More education data for Republic of 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 some primary (isced 1), population in Republic of Korea?
- Educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Republic of Korea was 97.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 97.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.7% in 1970.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population?
- Republic of Korea ranks 58th out of 136 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release