Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Expected years of schooling, males vs. females was 16.92 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Republic of Korea, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Republic of Korea is 16.92 years, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Republic of Korea peaked at 17.61 years in 2011 and was at its lowest, 13.69 years, in 1990.
That places Republic of Korea 20th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 13.69 years | — |
| 1991 | 13.89 years | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 14.02 years | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 14.33 years | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 14.65 years | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 14.91 years | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 15.35 years | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 16.01 years | +4.3% |
| 1998 | 15.87 years | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 16.23 years | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 16.44 years | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 16.54 years | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 16.72 years | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 16.87 years | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 17.03 years | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 17.2 years | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 17.3 years | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 17.43 years | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 17.47 years | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 17.51 years | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 17.57 years | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 17.61 years | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 17.48 years | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 17.37 years | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 17.25 years | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 17.14 years | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 17 years | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 16.9 years | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 16.8 years | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 16.75 years | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 16.74 years | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 16.84 years | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 16.92 years | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 16.92 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.89 years | 13.69 years | 16.23 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.05 years | 16.44 years | 17.51 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.19 years | 16.75 years | 17.61 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.86 years | 16.74 years | 16.92 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More education data for Republic of Korea
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.51 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -4.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0484 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.22 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Republic of Korea?
- Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Republic of Korea was 16.92 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 17.61 years in 2011.
- What is the lowest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.69 years in 1990.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for expected years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Republic of Korea ranks 20th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expected years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Expected years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of years a boy of school-entrance-age can expect to receive if the current age-specific enrollment rates persist throughout the child's life.