School enrollment, primary in South Korea
South Korea: School enrollment, primary was 97.3% in 2017. ▬ Flat
School enrollment, primary in South Korea, 1971–2017
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % net.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 97.3% for school enrollment, primary in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in South Korea peaked at 100.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 95.4%, in 2013.
That places South Korea 41st out of 186 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top quarter.
School enrollment, primary in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % net | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 95.9% | — |
| 1972 | 97.5% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 96.8% | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 96.4% | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 96.8% | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 97.7% | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 96.8% | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 97.1% | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 98.8% | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 100.0% | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 99.9% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 99.8% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 99.8% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 99.1% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 98.6% | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 98.3% | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 99.5% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 99.9% | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 99.9% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 99.8% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 99.6% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 99.4% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 99.0% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 98.5% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 98.2% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 98.3% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 97.7% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 98.5% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 99.1% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 98.1% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 97.7% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 98.5% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 98.2% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 99.4% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 99.4% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 99.5% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 99.5% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 99.5% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 98.4% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 98.9% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 97.8% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 95.4% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 95.8% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 98.0% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 96.9% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 97.3% | +0.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 97.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 95.7%, 1.0× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 97.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 94.7%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 97.1% | 95.9% | 98.8% | 9 |
| 1980s | 99.5% | 98.3% | 100.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 98.9% | 97.7% | 99.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 98.9% | 97.7% | 99.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 97.3% | 95.4% | 98.9% | 8 |
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 enrollment, primary in South Korea?
- School enrollment, primary in South Korea was 97.3% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1980.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 95.4% in 2013.
- How does South Korea rank for school enrollment, primary?
- South Korea ranks 41st out of 186 countries with data for 2017.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, primary (% net). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.