Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ was 15,558 millions in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
15,558 millions
Change on year
down 6.7%
World rank
14th
of 164 countries
All-time high
16,673 millions
in 2021
All-time low
25.3 millions
in 1970
Years of data
34
1970–2022
Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in Republic of Korea, 1970–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Republic of Korea is 15,558 millions, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.7% on the previous year and up 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Republic of Korea peaked at 16,673 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 25.3 millions, in 1970.
Republic of Korea ranks 14th of 164 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, US$ in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 25.3 millions | — |
| 1971 | 30.66 millions | +21.2% |
| 1972 | 28.67 millions | -6.5% |
| 1973 | 32.57 millions | +13.6% |
| 1975 | 48.68 millions | +49.4% |
| 1976 | 91.04 millions | +87.0% |
| 1977 | 75.94 millions | -16.6% |
| 1979 | 243.01 millions | +220.0% |
| 1980 | 257.78 millions | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 215.84 millions | -16.3% |
| 1982 | 1,419 millions | +557.3% |
| 1983 | 448.07 millions | -68.4% |
| 1984 | 499.16 millions | +11.4% |
| 1985 | 466.11 millions | -6.6% |
| 1986 | 455.64 millions | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 529.08 millions | +16.1% |
| 1988 | 534.53 millions | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 768.13 millions | +43.7% |
| 1990 | 837.29 millions | +9.0% |
| 1991 | 955.21 millions | +14.1% |
| 1992 | 1,048 millions | +9.7% |
| 1993 | 1,211 millions | +15.5% |
| 1994 | 1,106 millions | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 1,333 millions | +20.5% |
| 1998 | 1,382 millions | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 2,269 millions | +64.3% |
| 2015 | 13,078 millions | +476.3% |
| 2016 | 13,287 millions | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 13,744 millions | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 15,014 millions | +9.2% |
| 2019 | 13,500 millions | -10.1% |
| 2020 | 15,077 millions | +11.7% |
| 2021 | 16,673 millions | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 15,558 millions | -6.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 71.98 millions | 25.3 millions | 243.01 millions | 8 |
| 1980s | 559.31 millions | 215.84 millions | 1,419 millions | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,268 millions | 837.29 millions | 2,269 millions | 8 |
| 2010s | 13,725 millions | 13,078 millions | 15,014 millions | 5 |
| 2020s | 15,769 millions | 15,077 millions | 16,673 millions | 3 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 11 Australia 17,308 millions compare
- 12 Netherlands 16,637 millions compare
- 13 Spain 15,581 millions compare
- 15 Russian Federation 11,948 millions compare
- 16 Mexico 11,915 millions compare
- 17 Switzerland 10,240 millions compare
More education data for Republic of Korea
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 173,133 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.5% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 10.2% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 100.87 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 100.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Republic of Korea?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Republic of Korea was 15,558 millions in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 16,673 millions in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.3 millions in 1970.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$?
- Republic of Korea ranks 14th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary 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