Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea
South Korea: Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled was 2.66 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea, 1971–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
The most recent figure for secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea is 2.66 million, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea peaked at 5.03 million in 1987 and was at its lowest, 1.91 million, in 1971.
South Korea ranks 43rd of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1.91 million | — |
| 1972 | 2.17 million | +13.7% |
| 1973 | 2.40 million | +10.6% |
| 1974 | 2.65 million | +10.4% |
| 1975 | 2.88 million | +8.7% |
| 1976 | 3.11 million | +8.0% |
| 1977 | 3.32 million | +6.8% |
| 1978 | 3.49 million | +5.1% |
| 1979 | 3.69 million | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 4.00 million | +8.2% |
| 1981 | 4.29 million | +7.2% |
| 1982 | 4.34 million | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 4.43 million | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 4.69 million | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 4.83 million | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 4.93 million | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 5.03 million | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 4.90 million | -2.6% |
| 1989 | 4.82 million | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 4.70 million | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 4.56 million | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 4.44 million | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 4.46 million | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 4.58 million | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 4.65 million | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 4.71 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 4.57 million | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 4.37 million | -4.4% |
| 1999 | 4.18 million | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 3.96 million | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 3.77 million | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 3.66 million | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 3.65 million | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 3.70 million | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 3.80 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 3.86 million | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 3.93 million | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 3.96 million | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 3.99 million | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 3.96 million | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 3.88 million | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 3.79 million | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 3.72 million | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 3.58 million | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 3.40 million | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 3.23 million | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 3.07 million | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 2.89 million | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 2.73 million | -5.8% |
| 2020 | 2.67 million | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 2.67 million | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 2.63 million | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 2.63 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 2.66 million | +1.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.66 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 307,015, 8.7× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.66 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 162,113, 16.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.85 million | 1.91 million | 3.69 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.62 million | 4.00 million | 5.03 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.52 million | 4.18 million | 4.71 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.83 million | 3.65 million | 3.99 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.43 million | 2.73 million | 3.96 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.65 million | 2.63 million | 2.67 million | 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)
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea?
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in South Korea was 2.66 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.03 million in 1987.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.91 million in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for secondary education, pupils, gaps filled?
- South Korea ranks 43rd out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is secondary education, pupils, gaps filled rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Secondary education, pupils with 698 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Secondary education, pupils Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Secondary education, pupils with 698 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.