Teachers in tertiary education ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number) in South Korea
South Korea: Teachers in tertiary education ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number) was 39,455 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Teachers in tertiary education ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in South Korea, 1998–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for teachers in tertiary education isced 5 programmes, both sexes in South Korea is 39,455, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in tertiary education isced 5 programmes, both sexes in South Korea peaked at 60,313 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 38,117, in 2022.
That places South Korea 5th out of 83 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Teachers in tertiary education ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 39,639 | — |
| 1999 | 43,078 | +8.7% |
| 2000 | 46,904 | +8.9% |
| 2001 | 48,728 | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 53,829 | +10.5% |
| 2003 | 52,984 | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 56,506 | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 60,313 | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 58,578 | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 59,459 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 43,985 | -26.0% |
| 2009 | 44,663 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 47,419 | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 45,526 | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 47,491 | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 46,836 | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 46,966 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 45,172 | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 44,227 | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 43,929 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 39,781 | -9.4% |
| 2020 | 38,937 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 38,179 | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 38,117 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 39,689 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 39,455 | -0.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 39,455 is above the median for high income countries, which is 467, 84.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 39,455 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,956, 8.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41,358 | 39,639 | 43,078 | 2 |
| 2000s | 52,595 | 43,985 | 60,313 | 10 |
| 2010s | 45,261 | 39,781 | 47,491 | 9 |
| 2020s | 38,875 | 38,117 | 39,689 | 5 |
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 teachers in tertiary education isced 5 programmes, both sexes in South Korea?
- Teachers in tertiary education isced 5 programmes, both sexes in South Korea was 39,455 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in tertiary education isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 60,313 in 2005.
- What is the lowest teachers in tertiary education isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 38,117 in 2022.
- How does South Korea rank for teachers in tertiary education isced 5 programmes, both sexes?
- South Korea ranks 5th out of 83 countries with data for 2024.
- Is teachers in tertiary education isced 5 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. 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, published as part of Teachers in tertiary education ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release