Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Korea
South Korea: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 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 South Korea, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
South 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 South Korea peaked at 3.36 million number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 201,436 number, in 1971.
South 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.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 201,436 number | — |
| 1972 | 214,653 number | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 230,330 number | +7.3% |
| 1974 | 250,233 number | +8.6% |
| 1975 | 273,479 number | +9.3% |
| 1976 | 318,683 number | +16.5% |
| 1977 | 345,679 number | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 385,699 number | +11.6% |
| 1979 | 444,009 number | +15.1% |
| 1980 | 538,726 number | +21.3% |
| 1981 | 647,505 number | +20.2% |
| 1982 | 829,915 number | +28.2% |
| 1983 | 1.03 million number | +24.0% |
| 1984 | 1.20 million number | +17.0% |
| 1985 | 1.35 million number | +11.7% |
| 1986 | 1.46 million number | +8.2% |
| 1987 | 1.51 million number | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 1.55 million number | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 1.57 million number | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 1.63 million number | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 1.69 million number | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 1.76 million number | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 1.91 million number | +8.5% |
| 1994 | 1.95 million number | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 2.07 million number | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 2.23 million number | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 2.79 million number | +25.5% |
| 1998 | 2.64 million number | -5.6% |
| 1999 | 2.84 million number | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 3.00 million number | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 3.13 million number | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 3.21 million number | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 3.22 million number | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 3.22 million number | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.21 million number | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 3.20 million number | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 3.21 million number | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 3.20 million number | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 3.22 million number | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 3.27 million number | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 3.36 million number | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 3.36 million number | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.34 million number | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 3.32 million number | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 3.27 million number | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 3.20 million number | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 3.14 million number | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 3.08 million number | -1.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 3.08 million number is above the median for high income countries, which is 164,826 number, 18.7× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 3.08 million number is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 176,648 number, 17.5× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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 South Korea
More education data for South Korea
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.79 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.94 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in South Korea?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in South 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 South 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 South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 201,436 number in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- South Korea ranks 15th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.