Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions) (US) in South Korea
South Korea: Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions) (US) was 32,194 millions in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on primary education, US$ in South Korea, 1970–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2022, government expenditure on primary education, us$ in South Korea stood at 32,194 millions. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.5% on the previous year and up 56.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on primary education, us$ in South Korea peaked at 32,194 millions in 2022 and was at its lowest, 207.64 millions, in 1970.
That places South Korea 8th out of 154 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions) (US) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 207.64 millions | — |
| 1971 | 245.54 millions | +18.2% |
| 1972 | 213.29 millions | -13.1% |
| 1973 | 234.65 millions | +10.0% |
| 1975 | 237.49 millions | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 523.3 millions | +120.3% |
| 1977 | 548.39 millions | +4.8% |
| 1979 | 1,130 millions | +106.1% |
| 1980 | 1,084 millions | -4.1% |
| 1981 | 1,336 millions | +23.3% |
| 1982 | 1,731 millions | +29.5% |
| 1983 | 1,751 millions | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 1,793 millions | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 1,804 millions | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 1,893 millions | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 2,198 millions | +16.2% |
| 1988 | 2,906 millions | +32.2% |
| 1989 | 3,548 millions | +22.1% |
| 1990 | 3,758 millions | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 4,977 millions | +32.4% |
| 1992 | 5,370 millions | +7.9% |
| 1993 | 5,915 millions | +10.2% |
| 1994 | 6,229 millions | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 7,399 millions | +18.8% |
| 1998 | 5,111 millions | -30.9% |
| 1999 | 6,944 millions | +35.9% |
| 2015 | 20,526 millions | +195.6% |
| 2016 | 20,599 millions | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 22,692 millions | +10.2% |
| 2018 | 25,246 millions | +11.3% |
| 2019 | 25,755 millions | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 25,023 millions | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 27,637 millions | +10.4% |
| 2022 | 32,194 millions | +16.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 32,194 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,271 millions, 25.3× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 32,194 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,455 millions, 13.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions) (US) 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 | +195.6% | 6,944 millions | 20,526 millions |
| 1976 | +120.3% | 237.49 millions | 523.3 millions |
| 1979 | +106.1% | 548.39 millions | 1,130 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 417.57 millions | 207.64 millions | 1,130 millions | 8 |
| 1980s | 2,004 millions | 1,084 millions | 3,548 millions | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,713 millions | 3,758 millions | 7,399 millions | 8 |
| 2010s | 22,963 millions | 20,526 millions | 25,755 millions | 5 |
| 2020s | 28,285 millions | 25,023 millions | 32,194 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 primary education, us$ in South Korea?
- Government expenditure on primary education, us$ in South Korea was 32,194 millions in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on primary education, us$ recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 32,194 millions in 2022.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education, us$ recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 207.64 millions in 1970.
- How does South Korea rank for government expenditure on primary education, us$?
- South Korea ranks 8th out of 154 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on primary education, us$ rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.8%. 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 Government expenditure on primary education, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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