Share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math in South Korea
South Korea: Share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math was 83.78 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math in South Korea, 2000–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math in South Korea is 83.78, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math in South Korea peaked at 92.77 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 83.78, in 2022.
That places South Korea 7th out of 63 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
Share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 92.77 | — |
| 2003 | 90.48 | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 91.14 | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 91.87 | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 90.87 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 84.54 | -7.0% |
| 2018 | 85 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 83.78 | -1.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 83.78 is above the median for high income countries, which is 72.68, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 83.78 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 83.78, 1.0× the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 91.56 | 90.48 | 92.77 | 4 |
| 2010s | 86.8 | 84.54 | 90.87 | 3 |
| 2020s | 83.78 | 83.78 | 83.78 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More education data for South Korea
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.79 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.94 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math in South Korea?
- Share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math in South Korea was 83.78 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 92.77 in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.78 in 2022.
- How does South Korea rank for share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math?
- South Korea ranks 7th out of 63 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of students achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math by education level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).