Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in South Korea
South Korea: Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) was 98,232 millions in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in South Korea, 1970–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2022, government expenditure on education, constant us$ in South Korea stood at 98,232 millions. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 22.0% on the previous year and up 53.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, constant us$ in South Korea peaked at 98,232 millions in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2,105 millions, in 1975.
South Korea ranks 10th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,143 millions | — |
| 1971 | 2,593 millions | +21.0% |
| 1972 | 2,394 millions | -7.7% |
| 1973 | 2,286 millions | -4.5% |
| 1975 | 2,105 millions | -7.9% |
| 1976 | 3,143 millions | +49.3% |
| 1977 | 3,110 millions | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 4,669 millions | +50.1% |
| 1980 | 5,265 millions | +12.8% |
| 1981 | 4,735 millions | -10.1% |
| 1982 | 11,200 millions | +136.5% |
| 1983 | 8,653 millions | -22.7% |
| 1984 | 8,870 millions | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 9,516 millions | +7.3% |
| 1986 | 9,655 millions | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 10,094 millions | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 9,211 millions | -8.7% |
| 1989 | 11,003 millions | +19.5% |
| 1990 | 11,999 millions | +9.1% |
| 1991 | 15,273 millions | +27.3% |
| 1992 | 16,637 millions | +8.9% |
| 1993 | 18,372 millions | +10.4% |
| 1994 | 16,400 millions | -10.7% |
| 1995 | 17,482 millions | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 21,850 millions | +25.0% |
| 1999 | 24,394 millions | +11.6% |
| 2015 | 64,091 millions | +162.7% |
| 2016 | 64,137 millions | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 66,221 millions | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 70,133 millions | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 75,188 millions | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 76,502 millions | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 80,541 millions | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 98,232 millions | +22.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 98,232 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 7,845 millions, 12.5× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 98,232 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,596 millions, 61.5× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +162.7% | 24,394 millions | 64,091 millions |
| 1982 | +136.5% | 4,735 millions | 11,200 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,805 millions | 2,105 millions | 4,669 millions | 8 |
| 1980s | 8,820 millions | 4,735 millions | 11,200 millions | 10 |
| 1990s | 17,801 millions | 11,999 millions | 24,394 millions | 8 |
| 2010s | 67,954 millions | 64,091 millions | 75,188 millions | 5 |
| 2020s | 85,092 millions | 76,502 millions | 98,232 millions | 3 |
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 government expenditure on education, constant us$ in South Korea?
- Government expenditure on education, constant us$ in South Korea was 98,232 millions in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 98,232 millions in 2022.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,105 millions in 1975.
- How does South Korea rank for government expenditure on education, constant us$?
- South Korea ranks 10th out of 174 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on education, constant us$ rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.3%. 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 Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release