Share of the population with a completed post secondary education in South Korea
South Korea: Share of the population with a completed post secondary education was 49.56 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of the population with a completed post secondary education in South Korea, 2003–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population with a completed post secondary education in South Korea is 49.56, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with a completed post secondary education in South Korea peaked at 49.56 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 29.52, in 2003.
South Korea ranks 17th of 110 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Share of the population with a completed post secondary education in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 29.52 | — |
| 2004 | 30.52 | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 33.17 | +8.7% |
| 2007 | 34.69 | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 36.11 | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 39.34 | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 40.29 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 41.32 | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 42.32 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 43.69 | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 44.38 | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 45.31 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 46.01 | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 46.45 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 46.94 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 47.51 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 48.65 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 49.56 | +1.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 49.56 is above the median for high income countries, which is 39.39, 1.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 49.56 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 26.07, 1.9× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.8 | 29.52 | 36.11 | 5 |
| 2010s | 42.83 | 39.34 | 46.01 | 8 |
| 2020s | 47.82 | 46.45 | 49.56 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 14 Latvia 50.74 compare
- 15 South Africa 50.66 compare
- 16 United States 49.83 compare
- 18 Estonia 49.53 compare
- 19 Israel 49.5 compare
- 20 Luxembourg 48.49 compare
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 the population with a completed post secondary education in South Korea?
- Share of the population with a completed post secondary education in South Korea was 49.56 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with a completed post secondary education recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 49.56 in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of the population with a completed post secondary education recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.52 in 2003.
- How does South Korea rank for share of the population with a completed post secondary education?
- South Korea ranks 17th out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population with a completed post secondary education rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with a completed post secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).