Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both in South Korea
South Korea: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both was 2.73 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Korea, 1971–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South 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 South Korea peaked at 3.36 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 201,436, in 1971.
South 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 … gaps filled both in South 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% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.73 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 17.2× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.73 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 103,347, 26.4× the median. (30 countries reporting)
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 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Korea?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South 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 South 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 South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 201,436 in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
- South 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 South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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.