Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in Korea
Korea: Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education was 14.48 headcount basis in 2024. ▼ Falling
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in 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 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 Korea peaked at 32.12 headcount basis in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.48 headcount basis, in 2024.
That places 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 in 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% |
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 Korea
More education data for Korea
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 173,133 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.5% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 10.2% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 100.87 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 100.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in Korea?
- Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in 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 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 Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.48 headcount basis in 2024.
- How does Korea rank for pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education?
- Korea ranks 85th out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this 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.
Download this data
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