Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Korea

Korea: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 3.08 million number in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
3.08 million number
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
15th
of 193 countries
All-time high
3.36 million number
in 2012
All-time low
201,436 number
in 1971
Years of data
48
1971–2018

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Korea, 1971–2018

01.0M2.0M3.0M197119942018

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

Korea recorded 3.08 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2018.

That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 3.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Korea peaked at 3.36 million number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 201,436 number, in 1971.

Korea ranks 15th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 296,022 number 201,436 number 444,009 number 9
1980s 1.17 million number 538,726 number 1.57 million number 10
1990s 2.15 million number 1.63 million number 2.84 million number 10
2000s 3.18 million number 3.00 million number 3.22 million number 10
2010s 3.26 million number 3.08 million number 3.36 million number 9

Countries ranked near Korea

  1. 12 Philippines 3.59 million number compare
  2. 13 Argentina 3.14 million number compare
  3. 14 Germany 3.13 million number compare
  4. 16 Egypt 2.91 million number compare
  5. 17 France 2.62 million number compare
  6. 18 United Kingdom 2.47 million number compare

See the full ranking of 238 places →

More education data for Korea

All data for Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Korea?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Korea was 3.08 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Korea?
The highest recorded value was 3.36 million number in 2012.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 201,436 number in 1971.
How does Korea rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
Korea ranks 15th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this 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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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Korea. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
238 places, 8,058 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.