Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ (millions) (PPP) in South Korea
South Korea: Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ (millions) (PPP) was 24,800 millions in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ in South Korea, 1990–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in South Korea is 24,800 millions, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.9% on the previous year and up 43.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in South Korea peaked at 24,800 millions in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1,053 millions, in 1990.
South Korea ranks 13th of 148 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 tertiary education, PPP$ (millions) (PPP) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,053 millions | — |
| 1991 | 1,180 millions | +12.1% |
| 1992 | 1,308 millions | +10.9% |
| 1993 | 1,497 millions | +14.4% |
| 1994 | 1,294 millions | -13.6% |
| 1995 | 1,428 millions | +10.4% |
| 1998 | 2,495 millions | +74.8% |
| 1999 | 3,574 millions | +43.3% |
| 2015 | 17,249 millions | +382.6% |
| 2016 | 17,959 millions | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 17,814 millions | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 19,323 millions | +8.5% |
| 2019 | 18,562 millions | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 21,456 millions | +15.6% |
| 2021 | 22,984 millions | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 24,800 millions | +7.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 24,800 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,557 millions, 7.0× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 24,800 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,399 millions, 10.3× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ (millions) (PPP) 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 | +382.6% | 3,574 millions | 17,249 millions |
| 1998 | +74.8% | 1,428 millions | 2,495 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,728 millions | 1,053 millions | 3,574 millions | 8 |
| 2010s | 18,181 millions | 17,249 millions | 19,323 millions | 5 |
| 2020s | 23,080 millions | 21,456 millions | 24,800 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 tertiary education, ppp$ in South Korea?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in South Korea was 24,800 millions in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 24,800 millions in 2022.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,053 millions in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$?
- South Korea ranks 13th out of 148 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.8%. 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 tertiary education, PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release