Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary (headcount basis) in South Korea
South Korea: Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary (headcount basis) was 12.44 headcount basis in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
12.44 headcount basis
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
51st
of 69 countries
All-time high
21.47 headcount basis
in 2000
All-time low
12.4 headcount basis
in 2023
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary in South Korea, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in headcount basis.
Analysis
The most recent figure for pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary in South Korea is 12.44 headcount basis, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary in South Korea peaked at 21.47 headcount basis in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.4 headcount basis, in 2023.
That places South Korea 51st out of 69 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary (headcount basis) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | headcount basis | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.47 headcount basis | — |
| 2001 | 20.96 headcount basis | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 20.66 headcount basis | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 19.87 headcount basis | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 20.29 headcount basis | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 20.72 headcount basis | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 20.71 headcount basis | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 20.46 headcount basis | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 20.1 headcount basis | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 19.77 headcount basis | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 19.28 headcount basis | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 18.06 headcount basis | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 17.33 headcount basis | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 16.78 headcount basis | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 15.81 headcount basis | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 15.08 headcount basis | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 14.17 headcount basis | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 13.56 headcount basis | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 13.09 headcount basis | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 12.71 headcount basis | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 12.93 headcount basis | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 13.11 headcount basis | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 12.86 headcount basis | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 12.4 headcount basis | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 12.44 headcount basis | +0.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 12.44 headcount basis is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.55 headcount basis, 99% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 12.44 headcount basis is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 19.12 headcount basis, 65% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.5 headcount basis | 19.77 headcount basis | 21.47 headcount basis | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.59 headcount basis | 12.71 headcount basis | 19.28 headcount basis | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.75 headcount basis | 12.4 headcount basis | 13.11 headcount basis | 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 pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary in South Korea?
- Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary in South Korea was 12.44 headcount basis in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 21.47 headcount basis in 2000.
- What is the lowest pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.4 headcount basis in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary?
- South Korea ranks 51st out of 69 countries with data for 2024.
- Is pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary (headcount basis). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release