Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in South Korea
South Korea: Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education was 85.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in South Korea, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in South Korea stood at 85.3%.
That represents a change of down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in South Korea peaked at 94.2% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 84.9%, in 2018.
South Korea ranks 6th of 59 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 94.2% | — |
| 2003 | 93.2% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 94.2% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 94.2% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 92.4% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 86.3% | -6.5% |
| 2018 | 84.9% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 85.3% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 94.0% | 93.2% | 94.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 87.9% | 84.9% | 92.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 85.3% | 85.3% | 85.3% | 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 students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in South Korea?
- Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in South Korea was 85.3% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 94.2% in 2006.
- What is the lowest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.9% in 2018.
- How does South Korea rank for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education?
- South Korea ranks 6th out of 59 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of students who achieve minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education. This data includes only students enrolled in school.