School enrollment, preprimary in South Korea
South Korea: School enrollment, preprimary was 91.8% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
School enrollment, preprimary in South Korea, 1971–2020
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 91.8% for school enrollment, preprimary in 2020.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, preprimary in South Korea peaked at 96.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1971.
South Korea ranks 55th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School enrollment, preprimary in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.5% | — |
| 1972 | 2.5% | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 2.5% | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 2.9% | +13.3% |
| 1975 | 3.1% | +10.2% |
| 1976 | 3.6% | +15.1% |
| 1977 | 4.2% | +15.4% |
| 1978 | 4.7% | +11.9% |
| 1979 | 5.3% | +13.8% |
| 1980 | 6.5% | +22.8% |
| 1981 | 7.7% | +18.7% |
| 1982 | 18.6% | +139.8% |
| 1983 | 21.2% | +14.0% |
| 1984 | 26.8% | +26.5% |
| 1985 | 33.5% | +25.2% |
| 1986 | 41.6% | +24.2% |
| 1987 | 46.6% | +12.0% |
| 1988 | 51.8% | +11.2% |
| 1989 | 53.1% | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 55.5% | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 58.5% | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 63.9% | +9.2% |
| 1993 | 72.4% | +13.2% |
| 1994 | 79.3% | +9.5% |
| 1995 | 86.2% | +8.7% |
| 1996 | 86.5% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 92.8% | +7.3% |
| 2014 | 92.7% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 94.0% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 96.6% | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 95.0% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 93.5% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 92.2% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 91.8% | -0.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 91.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 93.0%, 99% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 91.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 74.4%, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School enrollment, preprimary in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | +139.8% | 7.7% | 18.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.5% | 2.5% | 5.3% | 9 |
| 1980s | 30.7% | 6.5% | 53.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 71.8% | 55.5% | 86.5% | 7 |
| 2010s | 93.8% | 92.2% | 96.6% | 7 |
| 2020s | 91.8% | 91.8% | 91.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 52 Jamaica 92.4% compare
- 53 Luxembourg 92.2% compare
- 54 Netherlands 92.0% compare
- 56 New Zealand 91.7% compare
- 57 Hungary 90.8% compare
- 58 Moldova 90.3% compare
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 enrollment, preprimary in South Korea?
- School enrollment, preprimary in South Korea was 91.8% in 2020, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, preprimary recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 96.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, preprimary recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for school enrollment, preprimary?
- South Korea ranks 55th out of 197 countries with data for 2020.
- Is school enrollment, preprimary rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, preprimary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Preprimary education refers to programs at the initial stage of organized instruction, designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment and to provide a bridge between home and school.