Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes was 97.9% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Republic of Korea, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2018, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Republic of Korea stood at 97.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Republic of Korea peaked at 100.3% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 58.9%, in 1971.
Republic of Korea ranks 31st of 181 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 58.9% | — |
| 1972 | 60.2% | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 60.6% | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 60.8% | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 61.0% | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 62.1% | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 62.4% | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 63.3% | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 65.2% | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 67.9% | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 70.6% | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 71.8% | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 73.5% | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 75.5% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 76.5% | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 77.5% | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 78.6% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 78.1% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 78.6% | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 79.2% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 79.0% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 79.0% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 80.4% | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 81.9% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 83.5% | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 86.0% | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 90.2% | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 88.9% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 90.5% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 91.2% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 91.6% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 92.4% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 93.8% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 95.2% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 96.8% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 98.2% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 99.8% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 100.2% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 100.3% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 100.0% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 99.6% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 98.4% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 97.7% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 97.6% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 97.6% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 97.3% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 97.5% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 97.9% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 61.6% | 58.9% | 65.2% | 9 |
| 1980s | 74.9% | 67.9% | 78.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 83.9% | 79.0% | 90.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 96.0% | 91.2% | 100.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 98.2% | 97.3% | 100.0% | 9 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 28 Belarus 98.4% compare
- 29 United States of America 98.3% compare
- 30 Estonia 97.9% compare
- 32 Austria 97.5% compare
- 33 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 96.8% compare
- 34 Saudi Arabia 96.3% compare
More education data for Republic of 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 gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Republic of Korea?
- Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Republic of Korea was 97.9% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 100.3% in 2009.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.9% in 1971.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- Republic of Korea ranks 31st out of 181 countries with data for 2018.
- Is gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio, primary to tertiary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total enrollment in primary, secondary and tertiary education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the total population of primary school age, secondary school age, and the five-year age group following on from secondary school leaving. GER can exceed 100% due to the inclusion of over-aged and under-aged students because of early or late school entrance and grade repetition.