Primary education, teachers in South Korea
South Korea: Primary education, teachers was 173,133 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Primary education, teachers in South Korea, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2024, primary education, teachers in South Korea stood at 173,133. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, teachers in South Korea peaked at 173,133 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 101,095, in 1971.
That places South Korea 39th out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Primary education, teachers in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 101,095 | — |
| 1972 | 103,756 | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 105,672 | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 107,259 | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 107,436 | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 108,126 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 109,530 | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 112,997 | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 115,245 | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 117,290 | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 119,064 | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 122,727 | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 124,572 | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 126,163 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 126,233 | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 126,785 | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 126,677 | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 130,142 | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 132,527 | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 134,898 | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 136,800 | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 138,207 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 138,945 | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 139,096 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 138,369 | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 137,912 | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 122,743 | -11.0% |
| 1998 | 124,412 | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 122,449 | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 125,477 | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 128,018 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 132,716 | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 139,057 | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 142,153 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 144,338 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 147,728 | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 149,945 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 152,891 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 155,554 | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 158,056 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 164,820 | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 165,536 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 165,615 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 165,786 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 164,415 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 164,354 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 164,663 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 165,837 | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 166,710 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 166,424 | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 167,074 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 169,496 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 171,784 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 173,133 | +0.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 173,133 is above the median for high income countries, which is 17,584, 9.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 173,133 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7,144, 24.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 107,902 | 101,095 | 115,245 | 9 |
| 1980s | 125,218 | 117,290 | 132,527 | 10 |
| 1990s | 133,383 | 122,449 | 139,096 | 10 |
| 2000s | 141,788 | 125,477 | 155,554 | 10 |
| 2010s | 164,579 | 158,056 | 166,710 | 10 |
| 2020s | 169,582 | 166,424 | 173,133 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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 primary education, teachers in South Korea?
- Primary education, teachers in South Korea was 173,133 in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, teachers recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 173,133 in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary education, teachers recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 101,095 in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for primary education, teachers?
- South Korea ranks 39th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, teachers rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, teachers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Primary education, teachers refers to the total number of teachers at primary level, including full-time and part-time teachers.