School age population, early childhood … age both sexes educational in South Korea
South Korea: School age population, early childhood … age both sexes educational was 730,554 in 2024. ▼ Falling
School age population, early childhood educational development in South Korea, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, early childhood educational development in South Korea is 730,554, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is down 5.7% on the previous year and down 46.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, early childhood educational development in South Korea peaked at 1.85 million in 2001 and was at its lowest, 730,554, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 31st of 104 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
School age population, early childhood … age both sexes educational in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.85 million | — |
| 2002 | 1.74 million | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 1.60 million | -7.9% |
| 2004 | 1.48 million | -7.5% |
| 2005 | 1.41 million | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 1.37 million | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 1.34 million | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 1.38 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 1.40 million | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 1.38 million | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 1.38 million | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 1.40 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 1.42 million | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 1.37 million | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 1.34 million | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 1.31 million | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 1.26 million | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 1.16 million | -7.4% |
| 2019 | 1.06 million | -9.1% |
| 2020 | 960,714 | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 884,866 | -7.9% |
| 2022 | 826,845 | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 774,949 | -6.3% |
| 2024 | 730,554 | -5.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 730,554 is above the median for high income countries, which is 142,576, 5.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 730,554 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 730,554, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.51 million | 1.34 million | 1.85 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 1.31 million | 1.06 million | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 835,586 | 730,554 | 960,714 | 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 school age population, early childhood educational development in South Korea?
- School age population, early childhood educational development in South Korea was 730,554 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, early childhood educational development recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.85 million in 2001.
- What is the lowest school age population, early childhood educational development recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 730,554 in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for school age population, early childhood educational development?
- South Korea ranks 31st out of 104 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, early childhood educational development rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.8%. 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 School age population, early childhood educational development programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release