Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 58.3 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Republic of Korea, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Republic of Korea recorded 58.3 for share of the population with completed tertiary education in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Republic of Korea peaked at 58.3 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1870.
Republic of Korea ranks 3rd of 111 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0 | — |
| 1875 | 0 | — |
| 1880 | 0 | — |
| 1885 | 0 | — |
| 1890 | 0 | — |
| 1895 | 0 | — |
| 1900 | 0 | — |
| 1905 | 0.1 | — |
| 1910 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.3 | +200.0% |
| 1925 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1930 | 0.6 | +50.0% |
| 1935 | 0.7 | +16.7% |
| 1940 | 0.8 | +14.3% |
| 1945 | 0.9 | +12.5% |
| 1950 | 1.3 | +44.4% |
| 1955 | 1.6 | +23.1% |
| 1960 | 2.8 | +75.0% |
| 1965 | 4 | +42.9% |
| 1970 | 6.2 | +55.0% |
| 1975 | 7.4 | +19.4% |
| 1980 | 9.6 | +29.7% |
| 1985 | 12.5 | +30.2% |
| 1990 | 17.2 | +37.6% |
| 1995 | 23.2 | +34.9% |
| 2000 | 29.6 | +27.6% |
| 2005 | 36.3 | +22.6% |
| 2010 | 45.5 | +25.3% |
| 2015 | 52.4 | +15.2% |
| 2020 | 58.3 | +11.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.05 | 0 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.35 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.65 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 2 |
| 1940s | 0.85 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.45 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.4 | 2.8 | 4 | 2 |
| 1970s | 6.8 | 6.2 | 7.4 | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.05 | 9.6 | 12.5 | 2 |
| 1990s | 20.2 | 17.2 | 23.2 | 2 |
| 2000s | 32.95 | 29.6 | 36.3 | 2 |
| 2010s | 48.95 | 45.5 | 52.4 | 2 |
| 2020s | 58.3 | 58.3 | 58.3 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 1 Russian Federation 69.8 compare
- 2 United States of America 60.9 compare
- 4 Taiwan, China 51.9 compare
- 5 Iceland 51.4 compare
- 6 Canada 51.3 compare
More education data for Republic of Korea
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 173,133 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.5% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 10.2% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 100.87 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 100.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Republic of Korea?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Republic of Korea was 58.3 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 58.3 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1870.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Republic of Korea ranks 3rd out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with completed tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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