Share of population with no formal education in South Korea
South Korea: Share of population with no formal education was 0.3% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population with no formal education in South Korea, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population with no formal education in South Korea is 0.3%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of down 57.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population with no formal education in South Korea peaked at 100.0% in 1870 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2020.
South Korea ranks 101st of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population with no formal education in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 100.0% | — |
| 1875 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 94.4% | -5.6% |
| 1905 | 88.9% | -5.8% |
| 1910 | 84.7% | -4.7% |
| 1915 | 74.9% | -11.6% |
| 1920 | 67.3% | -10.1% |
| 1925 | 60.3% | -10.4% |
| 1930 | 53.4% | -11.4% |
| 1935 | 46.2% | -13.5% |
| 1940 | 40.1% | -13.2% |
| 1945 | 34.8% | -13.2% |
| 1950 | 25.9% | -25.6% |
| 1955 | 20.2% | -22.0% |
| 1960 | 39.4% | +95.0% |
| 1965 | 27.9% | -29.2% |
| 1970 | 20.7% | -25.8% |
| 1975 | 14.0% | -32.4% |
| 1980 | 10.0% | -28.6% |
| 1985 | 8.0% | -20.0% |
| 1990 | 4.8% | -40.0% |
| 1995 | 2.7% | -43.7% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | -22.2% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | -33.3% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | -50.0% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -42.9% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | -25.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1880s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1890s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1900s | 91.7% | 88.9% | 94.4% | 2 |
| 1910s | 79.8% | 74.9% | 84.7% | 2 |
| 1920s | 63.8% | 60.3% | 67.3% | 2 |
| 1930s | 49.8% | 46.2% | 53.4% | 2 |
| 1940s | 37.5% | 34.8% | 40.1% | 2 |
| 1950s | 23.0% | 20.2% | 25.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 33.6% | 27.9% | 39.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 17.4% | 14.0% | 20.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 9.0% | 8.0% | 10.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.8% | 2.7% | 4.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More education data for South Korea
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.22 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -4.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0236 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.29 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -4.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0248 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 173,133 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7853 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with no formal education in South Korea?
- Share of population with no formal education in South Korea was 0.3% in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population with no formal education recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1870.
- What is the lowest share of population with no formal education recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2020.
- How does South Korea rank for share of population with no formal education?
- South Korea ranks 101st out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population with no formal education rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population with no formal education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of adults aged between 15 and 64 years old with no formal education.