Enrolment in primary education, female (number) (primary female) in South Korea
South Korea: Enrolment in primary education, female (number) (primary female) was 1.22 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.22 million
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
61st
of 216 countries
All-time high
2.79 million
in 1972
All-time low
1.22 million
in 2024
Years of data
54
1971–2024
Enrolment in primary education, female in South Korea, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in primary education, female in South Korea stood at 1.22 million. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, female in South Korea peaked at 2.79 million in 1972 and was at its lowest, 1.22 million, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 61st of 216 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, female (number) (primary female) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.75 million | — |
| 1972 | 2.79 million | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 2.78 million | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 2.75 million | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 2.72 million | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 2.71 million | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 2.67 million | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 2.67 million | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 2.72 million | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 2.74 million | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 2.75 million | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 2.71 million | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 2.65 million | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 2.55 million | -3.8% |
| 1985 | 2.45 million | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 2.36 million | -3.7% |
| 1987 | 2.33 million | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 2.32 million | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 2.34 million | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 2.38 million | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 2.36 million | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 2.31 million | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 2.20 million | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 2.10 million | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 1.98 million | -5.8% |
| 1996 | 1.87 million | -5.2% |
| 1997 | 1.80 million | -3.9% |
| 1998 | 1.82 million | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 1.86 million | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 1.89 million | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 1.92 million | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 1.95 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 1.97 million | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 1.94 million | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 1.90 million | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 1.86 million | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 1.83 million | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 1.76 million | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 1.66 million | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 1.58 million | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 1.50 million | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 1.42 million | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 1.34 million | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 1.32 million | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 1.31 million | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 1.29 million | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 1.30 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 1.32 million | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 1.34 million | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 1.31 million | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 1.30 million | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 1.30 million | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 1.27 million | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 1.22 million | -4.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.22 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 117,728, 10.4× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.22 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 114,474, 10.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.73 million | 2.67 million | 2.79 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.52 million | 2.32 million | 2.75 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.07 million | 1.80 million | 2.38 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.87 million | 1.66 million | 1.97 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.37 million | 1.29 million | 1.58 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.28 million | 1.22 million | 1.31 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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, female in South Korea?
- Enrolment in primary education, female in South Korea was 1.22 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, female recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.79 million in 1972.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, female recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.22 million in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for enrolment in primary education, female?
- South Korea ranks 61st out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, female rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release