Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in South Korea
South Korea: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes was 0.9% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in South Korea, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in South Korea is 0.9%, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 61.9% on the previous year and up 274.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in South Korea peaked at 4.5% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1980.
That places South Korea 131st out of 188 countries with data for 2018, 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 rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 4.1% | — |
| 1972 | 2.5% | -39.9% |
| 1973 | 3.2% | +30.0% |
| 1974 | 3.6% | +11.4% |
| 1975 | 3.2% | -9.5% |
| 1976 | 2.3% | -28.2% |
| 1977 | 3.2% | +39.2% |
| 1978 | 2.9% | -10.5% |
| 1979 | 1.2% | -56.6% |
| 1980 | 0.0% | -97.4% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | +57.7% |
| 1982 | 0.2% | +258.4% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | +29.1% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | +257.0% |
| 1985 | 1.4% | +65.4% |
| 1986 | 1.7% | +21.1% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | -69.3% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | -78.1% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | +89.5% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | +16.7% |
| 1992 | 0.4% | +61.6% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | +54.1% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +53.0% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | +49.7% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | +18.3% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | -17.7% |
| 1998 | 1.6% | +9.4% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | -14.3% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -43.2% |
| 2001 | 1.8% | +131.1% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | +15.9% |
| 2003 | 1.3% | -37.9% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | -81.9% |
| 2013 | 4.5% | +1728.8% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | -46.3% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | -61.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.1%, 87% of the median. (69 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.8%, 50% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +1728.8% | 0.2% | 4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.9% | 1.2% | 4.1% | 9 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.2% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | 0.2% | 2.1% | 6 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 0.9% | 4.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 128 Saint Kitts and Nevis 1.1% compare
- 129 Barbados 1.1% compare
- 130 Luxembourg 1.0% compare
- 132 Kazakhstan 0.9% compare
- 133 Ghana 0.8% compare
- 134 Cuba 0.8% 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 out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in South Korea?
- Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes in South Korea was 0.9% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4.5% in 2013.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1980.
- How does South Korea rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes?
- South Korea ranks 131st out of 188 countries with data for 2018.
- Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 274.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The number of students of the official age for primary education is subtracted from the total population of the same age. The result is expressed as a percentage of the population of the official age for primary education. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/