School age population, tertiary education, both sexes (number) in South Korea
South Korea: School age population, tertiary education, both sexes (number) was 3.22 million number in 2018. ▼ Falling
Latest (2018)
3.22 million number
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
33rd
of 203 countries
All-time high
4.50 million number
in 1991
All-time low
2.89 million number
in 1970
Years of data
49
1970–2018
School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in South Korea, 1970–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 3.22 million number for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in 2018.
That represents a change of down 3.2% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in South Korea peaked at 4.50 million number in 1991 and was at its lowest, 2.89 million number, in 1970.
South Korea ranks 33rd of 203 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 49 years of available data.
School age population, tertiary education, both sexes (number) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.89 million number | — |
| 1971 | 2.97 million number | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 3.08 million number | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 3.22 million number | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 3.40 million number | +5.6% |
| 1975 | 3.62 million number | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 3.84 million number | +6.1% |
| 1977 | 4.04 million number | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 4.19 million number | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 4.29 million number | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 4.33 million number | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 4.36 million number | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 4.35 million number | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 4.35 million number | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 4.34 million number | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 4.35 million number | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 4.36 million number | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 4.38 million number | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 4.41 million number | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 4.43 million number | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 4.46 million number | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 4.50 million number | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 4.50 million number | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 4.45 million number | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 4.38 million number | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 4.27 million number | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 4.14 million number | -3.1% |
| 1997 | 4.03 million number | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 3.96 million number | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 3.92 million number | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 3.92 million number | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 3.93 million number | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 3.91 million number | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 3.82 million number | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 3.69 million number | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 3.50 million number | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 3.30 million number | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 3.15 million number | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 3.08 million number | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 3.09 million number | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 3.18 million number | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 3.33 million number | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 3.45 million number | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 3.50 million number | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 3.50 million number | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 3.46 million number | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 3.41 million number | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 3.32 million number | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 3.22 million number | -3.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 3.22 million number is above the median for high income countries, which is 257,364 number, 12.5× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 3.22 million number is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 236,675 number, 13.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.55 million number | 2.89 million number | 4.29 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.36 million number | 4.33 million number | 4.43 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.26 million number | 3.92 million number | 4.50 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.54 million number | 3.08 million number | 3.93 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.37 million number | 3.18 million number | 3.50 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More education data for South Korea
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.79 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.94 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in South Korea?
- School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in South Korea was 3.22 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4.50 million number in 1991.
- What is the lowest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.89 million number in 1970.
- How does South Korea rank for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes?
- South Korea ranks 33rd out of 203 countries with data for 2018.
- Is school age population, tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. 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, tertiary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Population of the age-group theoretically corresponding to tertiary education as indicated by theoretical entrance age and duration.