Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Korea
Korea: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 1,383 children in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Korea, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
Korea recorded 1,383 children for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 690.3% on the previous year and down 98.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Korea peaked at 98,027 children in 2000 and was at its lowest, 175 children, in 2023.
Korea ranks 152nd of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Korea, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 98,027 children | — |
| 2001 | 92,431 children | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 85,209 children | -7.8% |
| 2003 | 50,430 children | -40.8% |
| 2004 | 59,631 children | +18.2% |
| 2005 | 28,666 children | -51.9% |
| 2006 | 22,143 children | -22.8% |
| 2007 | 9,081 children | -59.0% |
| 2008 | 5,909 children | -34.9% |
| 2009 | 43,186 children | +630.9% |
| 2010 | 1,882 children | -95.6% |
| 2011 | 30,663 children | +1529.3% |
| 2012 | 36,021 children | +17.5% |
| 2013 | 65,766 children | +82.6% |
| 2014 | 81,037 children | +23.2% |
| 2015 | 4,439 children | -94.5% |
| 2016 | 19,406 children | +337.2% |
| 2017 | 51,373 children | +164.7% |
| 2018 | 51,348 children | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 25,087 children | -51.1% |
| 2020 | 37,706 children | +50.3% |
| 2021 | 41,169 children | +9.2% |
| 2022 | 29,809 children | -27.6% |
| 2023 | 175 children | -99.4% |
| 2024 | 1,383 children | +690.3% |
Korea compared with similar countries
- Korea's 1,383 children is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,674 children, 38% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Korea's 1,383 children is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,225 children, 33% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +1529.3% | 1,882 children | 30,663 children |
| 2024 | +690.3% | 175 children | 1,383 children |
| 2009 | +630.9% | 5,909 children | 43,186 children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 49,471 children | 5,909 children | 98,027 children | 10 |
| 2010s | 36,702 children | 1,882 children | 81,037 children | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,048 children | 175 children | 41,169 children | 5 |
Countries ranked near Korea
- 149 Brunei Darussalam 1,438 children compare
- 150 New Caledonia 1,409 children
- 151 Poland 1,392 children compare
- 153 Vanuatu 1,261 children compare
- 154 French Polynesia 1,103 children
- 155 British Virgin Islands 1,080 children compare
More education data for 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 primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Korea?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Korea was 1,383 children in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 98,027 children in 2000.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 175 children in 2023.
- How does Korea rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Korea ranks 152nd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 98.3%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.