Teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in South Korea
South Korea: Teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) was 77,409 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Korea, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 77,409 for teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Korea peaked at 99,346 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 1,660, in 1971.
That places South Korea 23rd out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1,660 | — |
| 1972 | 1,694 | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 1,800 | +6.3% |
| 1974 | 1,880 | +4.4% |
| 1975 | 2,013 | +7.1% |
| 1976 | 2,153 | +7.0% |
| 1977 | 2,288 | +6.3% |
| 1978 | 2,415 | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 2,561 | +6.0% |
| 1980 | 2,896 | +13.1% |
| 1981 | 3,339 | +15.3% |
| 1982 | 3,961 | +18.6% |
| 1983 | 4,349 | +9.8% |
| 1984 | 6,421 | +47.6% |
| 1985 | 7,513 | +17.0% |
| 1986 | 9,281 | +23.5% |
| 1987 | 11,834 | +27.5% |
| 1988 | 11,920 | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 13,078 | +9.7% |
| 1990 | 14,886 | +13.8% |
| 1991 | 18,511 | +24.4% |
| 1992 | 19,741 | +6.6% |
| 1993 | 21,133 | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 18,176 | -14.0% |
| 1995 | 19,654 | +8.1% |
| 1996 | 21,098 | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 86,959 | +312.2% |
| 2014 | 93,024 | +7.0% |
| 2015 | 95,722 | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 99,346 | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 99,081 | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 99,020 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 97,297 | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 96,230 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 85,679 | -11.0% |
| 2022 | 82,172 | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 80,751 | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 77,409 | -4.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 77,409 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6,266, 12.4× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 77,409 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,376, 56.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +312.2% | 21,098 | 86,959 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,052 | 1,660 | 2,561 | 9 |
| 1980s | 7,459 | 2,896 | 13,078 | 10 |
| 1990s | 19,028 | 14,886 | 21,133 | 7 |
| 2010s | 95,778 | 86,959 | 99,346 | 7 |
| 2020s | 84,448 | 77,409 | 96,230 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More education data for South Korea
- 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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0484 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Korea?
- Teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes in South Korea was 77,409 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 99,346 in 2016.
- What is the lowest teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,660 in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- South Korea ranks 23rd out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Teachers in pre-primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 38 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release