Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in South Korea
South Korea: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square was 26.79 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▼ Falling
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in South Korea, 1971–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in South Korea stood at 26.79 units per square kilometre. That is the lowest value across all 53 years on record.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in South Korea peaked at 60.21 units per square kilometre in 1972 and was at its lowest, 26.79 units per square kilometre, in 2023.
That places South Korea 42nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 53 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in South Korea, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 59.6 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1972 | 60.21 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 59.88 units per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 59.01 units per square kilometre | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 58.25 units per square kilometre | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 58.05 units per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 57.06 units per square kilometre | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 57.17 units per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 58.1 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 58.48 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 58.66 units per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 57.92 units per square kilometre | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 56.66 units per square kilometre | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 54.5 units per square kilometre | -3.8% |
| 1985 | 52.26 units per square kilometre | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 50.35 units per square kilometre | -3.7% |
| 1987 | 49.74 units per square kilometre | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 49.47 units per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 49.97 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 50.74 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 50.47 units per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 49.33 units per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 47.27 units per square kilometre | -4.2% |
| 1994 | 45.07 units per square kilometre | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 42.61 units per square kilometre | -5.5% |
| 1996 | 40.6 units per square kilometre | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 39.34 units per square kilometre | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 39.86 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 40.91 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 41.78 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 42.38 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 42.86 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 43.24 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 42.61 units per square kilometre | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 41.63 units per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 40.6 units per square kilometre | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 39.6 units per square kilometre | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 37.94 units per square kilometre | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 35.87 units per square kilometre | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 34.01 units per square kilometre | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 32.3 units per square kilometre | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 30.41 units per square kilometre | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 28.65 units per square kilometre | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 28.08 units per square kilometre | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 27.93 units per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 27.49 units per square kilometre | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 27.5 units per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 27.89 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 28.23 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 27.69 units per square kilometre | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 27.48 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 27.4 units per square kilometre | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 26.79 units per square kilometre | -2.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 26.79 units per square kilometre is above the median for high income countries, which is 8 units per square kilometre, 3.3× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 26.79 units per square kilometre is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.59 units per square kilometre, 2.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 58.59 units per square kilometre | 57.06 units per square kilometre | 60.21 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1980s | 53.8 units per square kilometre | 49.47 units per square kilometre | 58.66 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.62 units per square kilometre | 39.34 units per square kilometre | 50.74 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.85 units per square kilometre | 35.87 units per square kilometre | 43.24 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.25 units per square kilometre | 27.49 units per square kilometre | 34.01 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.34 units per square kilometre | 26.79 units per square kilometre | 27.69 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 39 Guam 28.73 units per square kilometre compare
- 40 Grenada 27.97 units per square kilometre compare
- 41 Sierra Leone 27.95 units per square kilometre compare
- 43 Belgium 26.71 units per square kilometre compare
- 44 Sri Lanka 25.48 units per square kilometre compare
- 45 Nepal 25.19 units per square kilometre compare
More education data for South Korea
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 233,046 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 76 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 434,627 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 412,067 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.66 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in South Korea?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square in South Korea was 26.79 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 60.21 units per square kilometre in 1972.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.79 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square?
- South Korea ranks 42nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.