Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in South Korea
South Korea: Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) was 14.48 headcount basis in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
14.48 headcount basis
Change on year
down 4.9%
World rank
110th
of 139 countries
All-time high
32.12 headcount basis
in 2000
All-time low
14.48 headcount basis
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Pupil-trained 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-trained 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-trained 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.
South Korea ranks 110th of 139 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Pupil-trained 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 13.46 headcount basis, 1.1× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 14.48 headcount basis is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 24.18 headcount basis, 60% of the median. (21 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-trained teacher ratio in primary education in South Korea?
- Pupil-trained 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-trained 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-trained 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-trained teacher ratio in primary education?
- South Korea ranks 110th out of 139 countries with data for 2024.
- Is pupil-trained 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-trained 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