Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea
South Korea: Primary education, pupils, gaps filled was 2.51 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea, 1971–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2024, primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea stood at 2.51 million. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea peaked at 5.81 million in 1972 and was at its lowest, 2.51 million, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 60th of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.75 million | — |
| 1972 | 5.81 million | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 5.78 million | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 5.69 million | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 5.62 million | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 5.60 million | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 5.50 million | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 5.51 million | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 5.60 million | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 5.64 million | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 5.66 million | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 5.59 million | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 5.47 million | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 5.26 million | -3.8% |
| 1985 | 5.04 million | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 4.86 million | -3.7% |
| 1987 | 4.80 million | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 4.77 million | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 4.82 million | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 4.89 million | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 4.87 million | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 4.76 million | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 4.56 million | -4.2% |
| 1994 | 4.35 million | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 4.11 million | -5.5% |
| 1996 | 3.92 million | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 3.79 million | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 3.84 million | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 3.95 million | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 4.03 million | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 4.10 million | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 4.15 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 4.19 million | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 4.13 million | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 4.03 million | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 3.93 million | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 3.84 million | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 3.68 million | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 3.48 million | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 3.31 million | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 3.14 million | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 2.96 million | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 2.79 million | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 2.74 million | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 2.72 million | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 2.68 million | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 2.68 million | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 2.72 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 2.76 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 2.70 million | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 2.68 million | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 2.67 million | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 2.61 million | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 2.51 million | -4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.65 million | 5.50 million | 5.81 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 5.19 million | 4.77 million | 5.66 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.30 million | 3.79 million | 4.89 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.96 million | 3.48 million | 4.19 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.85 million | 2.68 million | 3.31 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.64 million | 2.51 million | 2.70 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More education data for South Korea
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.51 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -4.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0484 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.22 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -4.18 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea?
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea was 2.51 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.81 million in 1972.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.51 million in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for primary education, pupils, gaps filled?
- South Korea ranks 60th out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils, gaps filled rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Primary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Primary education, pupils 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
Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.