Human capital composite index in South Korea
South Korea: Human capital composite index was 0.1995 standard deviations from the yearly mean in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Human capital composite index in South Korea, 2000–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in standard deviations from the yearly mean.
Analysis
The most recent figure for human capital composite index in South Korea is 0.1995 standard deviations from the yearly mean, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.6% on the previous year and up 35.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human capital composite index in South Korea peaked at 0.6689 standard deviations from the yearly mean in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.0439 standard deviations from the yearly mean, in 2017.
South Korea ranks 93rd of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Human capital composite index in South Korea, year by year
| Year | standard deviations from the yearly mean | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.6689 standard deviations from the yearly mean | — |
| 2001 | 0.4772 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -28.7% |
| 2002 | 0.4211 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -11.8% |
| 2003 | 0.384 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -8.8% |
| 2004 | 0.3907 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 0.3644 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 0.35 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 0.3257 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 0.2961 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -9.1% |
| 2009 | 0.256 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -13.5% |
| 2010 | 0.2438 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 0.268 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +9.9% |
| 2012 | 0.275 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 0.1971 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -28.3% |
| 2014 | 0.1478 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -25.0% |
| 2015 | 0.1158 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -21.7% |
| 2016 | 0.0511 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -55.9% |
| 2017 | 0.0439 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -14.0% |
| 2018 | 0.0738 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +67.8% |
| 2019 | 0.134 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +81.6% |
| 2020 | 0.0579 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -56.8% |
| 2021 | 0.1149 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +98.7% |
| 2022 | 0.2969 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +158.3% |
| 2023 | 0.207 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -30.3% |
| 2024 | 0.1995 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -3.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.1995 standard deviations from the yearly mean is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.3622 standard deviations from the yearly mean, 55% of the median. (75 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.1995 standard deviations from the yearly mean is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.1852 standard deviations from the yearly mean, 1.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Human capital composite index 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +158.3% | 0.1149 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.2969 standard deviations from the yearly mean |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.3934 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.256 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.6689 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.155 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.0439 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.275 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1753 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.0579 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.2969 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 90 Hong Kong 0.2154 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
- 91 Mongolia 0.2153 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
- 92 Czechia 0.2096 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
- 94 Mauritius 0.1864 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
- 95 Togo 0.172 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
- 96 Vietnam 0.1709 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
More education data for South 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 human capital composite index in South Korea?
- Human capital composite index in South Korea was 0.1995 standard deviations from the yearly mean in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest human capital composite index recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6689 standard deviations from the yearly mean in 2000.
- What is the lowest human capital composite index recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0439 standard deviations from the yearly mean in 2017.
- How does South Korea rank for human capital composite index?
- South Korea ranks 93rd out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is human capital composite index rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Human capital composite index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
An equal-weighted index of 4 indicators: Literacy rate, adult total; School enrollment, primary; School enrollment, secondary; Government expenditure on education, total. Each is standardised against that year's spread across all reporting countries before averaging, so a score of 0 is the average country and +1 is one standard deviation above it.
Equal-weighted mean of the standardised inputs below.
Computed from
- Literacy rate, adult total Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- School enrollment, primary Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- School enrollment, secondary Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Government expenditure on education, total Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
An equal-weighted index of 4 indicators: Literacy rate, adult total; School enrollment, primary; School enrollment, secondary; Government expenditure on education, total. Each is standardised against that year's spread across all reporting countries before averaging, so a score of 0 is the average country and +1 is one standard deviation above it.