Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP in Korea
Korea: Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP was 0.9% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP in Korea, 1970–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in Korea is 0.9%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in Korea peaked at 1.8% in 1982 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1977.
That places Korea 69th out of 173 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP in Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.3% | — |
| 1971 | 0.3% | +10.0% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | -14.9% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | -11.2% |
| 1975 | 0.2% | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | +36.2% |
| 1977 | 0.2% | -35.1% |
| 1979 | 0.4% | +83.6% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | +8.5% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | -25.0% |
| 1982 | 1.8% | +511.0% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | -71.8% |
| 1984 | 0.5% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 0.4% | -10.2% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | -15.4% |
| 1987 | 0.3% | -8.5% |
| 1988 | 0.3% | -25.1% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | +16.1% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | -5.1% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 0.3% | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 0.3% | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | -22.6% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | +52.9% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | +26.6% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | +93.1% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | +12.1% |
| 2021 | 0.9% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 0.9% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 8 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 8 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 5 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More education data for 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 government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in Korea?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp in Korea was 0.9% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.8% in 1982.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1977.
- How does Korea rank for government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp?
- Korea ranks 69th out of 173 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary education as a percentage of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release