Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Korea

Korea: Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary was 41,500 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
41,500
Change on year
up 64.4%
World rank
84th
of 181 countries
All-time high
116,958
in 2000
All-time low
4,847
in 2010
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Korea, 2000–2024

025.0k50.0k75.0k100.0k125.0k2000201220242000: 117.0k2001: 109.1k2002: 111.0k2003: 105.2k2004: 113.8k2005: 74.5k2006: 49.0k2007: 23.6k2008: 55.5k2009: 45.4k2010: 4.8k2011: 30.9k2012: 39.7k2013: 66.2k2014: 82.4k2015: 45.8k2016: 71.4k2017: 99.9k2018: 53.1k2019: 29.6k2020: 66.8k2021: 56.9k2022: 35.8k2023: 25.2k2024: 41.5k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

Korea recorded 41,500 for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in 2024.

The figure is up 64.4% on the previous year and down 49.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Korea peaked at 116,958 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4,847, in 2010.

That places Korea 84th out of 181 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Korea, year by year

Annual values for Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, both sexes (number) in Korea, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 116,958
2001 109,130 -6.7%
2002 110,994 +1.7%
2003 105,157 -5.3%
2004 113,819 +8.2%
2005 74,506 -34.5%
2006 49,037 -34.2%
2007 23,627 -51.8%
2008 55,538 +135.1%
2009 45,369 -18.3%
2010 4,847 -89.3%
2011 30,868 +536.8%
2012 39,655 +28.5%
2013 66,167 +66.9%
2014 82,370 +24.5%
2015 45,787 -44.4%
2016 71,410 +56.0%
2017 99,895 +39.9%
2018 53,099 -46.8%
2019 29,616 -44.2%
2020 66,778 +125.5%
2021 56,893 -14.8%
2022 35,786 -37.1%
2023 25,246 -29.5%
2024 41,500 +64.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 80,414 23,627 116,958 10
2010s 52,371 4,847 99,895 10
2020s 45,241 25,246 66,778 5

Countries ranked near Korea

  1. 81 Belarus 45,455 compare
  2. 82 Cape Verde 44,273 compare
  3. 83 Comoros 43,753 compare
  4. 85 Kyrgyzstan 39,598 compare
  5. 86 Israel 39,435 compare
  6. 87 Puerto Rico 37,959 compare

See the full ranking of 181 places →

More education data for Korea

All data for Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Korea?
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Korea was 41,500 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Korea?
The highest recorded value was 116,958 in 2000.
What is the lowest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 4,847 in 2010.
How does Korea rank for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary?
Korea ranks 84th out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
Is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary rising or falling in Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Korea data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in Korea. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-children-and-adolescents-of-primary-and-lower-secondary-school-age-both-2/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
181 places, 3,186 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release