Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 2.73 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.73 million
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
18th
of 200 countries
All-time high
3.36 million
in 2012
All-time low
201,436
in 1971
Years of data
54
1971–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Republic of Korea, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Republic of Korea recorded 2.73 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Republic of Korea peaked at 3.36 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 201,436, in 1971.
Republic of Korea ranks 18th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 201,436 | — |
| 1972 | 214,653 | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 230,330 | +7.3% |
| 1974 | 250,233 | +8.6% |
| 1975 | 273,479 | +9.3% |
| 1976 | 318,683 | +16.5% |
| 1977 | 345,679 | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 385,699 | +11.6% |
| 1979 | 444,009 | +15.1% |
| 1980 | 538,726 | +21.3% |
| 1981 | 647,505 | +20.2% |
| 1982 | 829,915 | +28.2% |
| 1983 | 1.03 million | +24.0% |
| 1984 | 1.20 million | +17.0% |
| 1985 | 1.35 million | +11.7% |
| 1986 | 1.46 million | +8.2% |
| 1987 | 1.51 million | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 1.55 million | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 1.57 million | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 1.63 million | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 1.69 million | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 1.76 million | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 1.91 million | +8.5% |
| 1994 | 1.95 million | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 2.07 million | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 2.23 million | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 2.79 million | +25.5% |
| 1998 | 2.64 million | -5.6% |
| 1999 | 2.84 million | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 3.00 million | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 3.13 million | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 3.21 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 3.22 million | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 3.22 million | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.21 million | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 3.20 million | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 3.21 million | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 3.20 million | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 3.22 million | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 3.27 million | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 3.36 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 3.36 million | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.34 million | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 3.32 million | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 3.27 million | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 3.20 million | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 3.14 million | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 3.08 million | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 3.04 million | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 2.99 million | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 2.91 million | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 2.83 million | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 2.76 million | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 2.73 million | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 296,022 | 201,436 | 444,009 | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.17 million | 538,726 | 1.57 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.15 million | 1.63 million | 2.84 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.18 million | 3.00 million | 3.22 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.24 million | 3.04 million | 3.36 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.84 million | 2.73 million | 2.99 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More education data for Republic of Korea
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 173,133 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.5% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 10.2% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 100.87 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 100.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Republic of Korea?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Republic of Korea was 2.73 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.36 million in 2012.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 201,436 in 1971.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Republic of Korea ranks 18th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release