Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 2.73 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Republic of Korea, 1971–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Republic of Korea stood at 2.73 million.
That represents a change of 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 (number) 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 (number) 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
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.37 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 846,694 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -7.78 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 132,721 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 40,412 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.23 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -0.0122 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 1.50 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Republic of Korea?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Republic of Korea was 2.73 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 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 (number) 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 (number)?
- Republic of Korea ranks 18th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 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 Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.