Secondary education, pupils in South Korea
South Korea: Secondary education, pupils was 2.66 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
2.66 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
43rd
of 206 countries
All-time high
5.03 million
in 1987
All-time low
1.91 million
in 1971
Years of data
54
1971–2024
Secondary education, pupils in South Korea, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2024, secondary education, pupils in South Korea stood at 2.66 million.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and down 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils 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 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)
- 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 secondary education, pupils in South Korea?
- Secondary education, pupils in South Korea was 2.66 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.03 million in 1987.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.91 million in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for secondary education, pupils?
- South Korea ranks 43rd out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is secondary education, pupils 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 Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Secondary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.