Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in South Korea
South Korea: Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) was 14.48 headcount basis in 2024. ▼ Falling
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education 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 primary education in South Korea is 14.48 headcount basis, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 4.9% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in South Korea peaked at 32.12 headcount basis in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.48 headcount basis, in 2024.
That places South Korea 85th out of 113 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | headcount basis | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 32.12 headcount basis | — |
| 2001 | 32.02 headcount basis | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 31.26 headcount basis | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 30.1 headcount basis | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 29.02 headcount basis | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 27.93 headcount basis | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 26.62 headcount basis | -4.7% |
| 2007 | 25.59 headcount basis | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 24.07 headcount basis | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 22.38 headcount basis | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 20.92 headcount basis | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 19.05 headcount basis | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 17.88 headcount basis | -6.2% |
| 2013 | 16.85 headcount basis | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 16.5 headcount basis | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 16.55 headcount basis | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 16.31 headcount basis | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 16.29 headcount basis | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 16.4 headcount basis | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 16.53 headcount basis | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 16.24 headcount basis | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 16.05 headcount basis | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 15.78 headcount basis | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 15.22 headcount basis | -3.5% |
| 2024 | 14.48 headcount basis | -4.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 14.48 headcount basis is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.24 headcount basis, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 14.48 headcount basis is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 19.32 headcount basis, 75% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.11 headcount basis | 22.38 headcount basis | 32.12 headcount basis | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.33 headcount basis | 16.29 headcount basis | 20.92 headcount basis | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.55 headcount basis | 14.48 headcount basis | 16.24 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 primary education in South Korea?
- Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in South Korea was 14.48 headcount basis in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 32.12 headcount basis in 2000.
- What is the lowest pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.48 headcount basis in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education?
- South Korea ranks 85th out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. 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 primary education (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