Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in South Korea
South Korea: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 1.23 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in South Korea, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 1.23 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in 2024.
That represents a change of down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in South Korea peaked at 1.34 million in 2013 and was at its lowest, 48,863, in 1971.
That places South Korea 24th out of 195 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 48,863 | — |
| 1972 | 53,247 | +9.0% |
| 1973 | 59,493 | +11.7% |
| 1974 | 66,387 | +11.6% |
| 1975 | 74,235 | +11.8% |
| 1976 | 81,228 | +9.4% |
| 1977 | 86,655 | +6.7% |
| 1978 | 93,168 | +7.5% |
| 1979 | 104,515 | +12.2% |
| 1980 | 123,366 | +18.0% |
| 1982 | 211,956 | +71.8% |
| 1983 | 268,963 | +26.9% |
| 1984 | 338,656 | +25.9% |
| 1985 | 417,127 | +23.2% |
| 1986 | 432,385 | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 448,529 | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 458,602 | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 472,348 | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 501,631 | +6.2% |
| 1991 | 534,053 | +6.5% |
| 1992 | 576,611 | +8.0% |
| 1993 | 674,454 | +17.0% |
| 1994 | 674,800 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 722,853 | +7.1% |
| 1996 | 781,706 | +8.1% |
| 1997 | 1.05 million | +34.3% |
| 1998 | 923,158 | -12.1% |
| 1999 | 998,297 | +8.1% |
| 2000 | 1.07 million | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 1.13 million | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 1.17 million | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 1.18 million | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 1.19 million | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 1.19 million | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 1.20 million | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 1.22 million | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 1.23 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 1.25 million | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 1.29 million | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 1.33 million | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 1.34 million | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 1.34 million | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 1.34 million | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.33 million | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 1.32 million | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 1.31 million | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 1.30 million | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 1.30 million | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 1.30 million | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 1.27 million | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 1.25 million | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 1.23 million | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 1.23 million | -0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.23 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 97,133, 12.7× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.23 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 95,251, 12.9× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | +71.8% | 123,366 | 211,956 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 74,199 | 48,863 | 104,515 | 9 |
| 1980s | 352,437 | 123,366 | 472,348 | 9 |
| 1990s | 743,747 | 501,631 | 1.05 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.18 million | 1.07 million | 1.25 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.32 million | 1.29 million | 1.34 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.26 million | 1.23 million | 1.30 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, female in South Korea?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in South Korea was 1.23 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.34 million in 2013.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 48,863 in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- South Korea ranks 24th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release