Gross graduation ratio … both sexes UNESCO Institute for Sta in South Korea
South Korea: Gross graduation ratio … both sexes UNESCO Institute for Sta was 51.8% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (ISCED 6 and 7) in South Korea, 1998–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Korea is 51.8%, measured in 2017.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Korea peaked at 53.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 23.7%, in 1998.
South Korea ranks 12th of 103 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Gross graduation ratio … both sexes UNESCO Institute for Sta in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 23.7% | — |
| 1999 | 25.6% | +8.0% |
| 2000 | 27.6% | +8.0% |
| 2001 | 30.9% | +11.9% |
| 2002 | 31.3% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 32.9% | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 33.8% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 34.5% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 36.4% | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 40.0% | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 48.4% | +21.1% |
| 2009 | 50.9% | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 53.1% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 50.4% | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 48.1% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 47.0% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 49.3% | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 50.7% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 51.8% | +2.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 51.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 43.1%, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 51.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 25.8%, 2.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.6% | 23.7% | 25.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 36.7% | 27.6% | 50.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.1% | 47.0% | 53.1% | 7 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 9 Switzerland 54.2% compare
- 10 Norway 53.6% compare
- 11 United Kingdom 52.7% compare
- 13 Netherlands 51.5% compare
- 14 Mongolia 51.5% compare
- 15 Portugal 51.5% compare
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 gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Korea?
- Gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Korea was 51.8% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.
- What is the highest gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 53.1% in 2011.
- What is the lowest gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.7% in 1998.
- How does South Korea rank for gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7)?
- South Korea ranks 12th out of 103 countries with data for 2017.
- Is gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds, published as part of Gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (ISCED 6 and 7) in tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of graduates from first degree programmes (at ISCED 6 and 7) expressed as a percentage of the population of the theoretical graduation age of the most common first degree programme.