Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in South Korea
South Korea: Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) was 231,284 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Korea, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Korea is 231,284, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Korea peaked at 231,284 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10,435, in 1971.
South Korea ranks 9th of 185 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 10,435 | — |
| 1972 | 10,924 | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 12,072 | +10.5% |
| 1974 | 12,671 | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 13,154 | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 15,317 | +16.4% |
| 1977 | 14,255 | -6.9% |
| 1978 | 15,444 | +8.3% |
| 1979 | 16,876 | +9.3% |
| 1980 | 19,174 | +13.6% |
| 1981 | 21,173 | +10.4% |
| 1982 | 24,357 | +15.0% |
| 1983 | 27,616 | +13.4% |
| 1984 | 30,163 | +9.2% |
| 1985 | 32,342 | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 34,300 | +6.1% |
| 1987 | 36,172 | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 57,373 | +58.6% |
| 1989 | 60,324 | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 69,390 | +15.0% |
| 1991 | 72,954 | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 77,458 | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 82,870 | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 85,669 | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 93,275 | +8.9% |
| 1996 | 103,703 | +11.2% |
| 1997 | 134,098 | +29.3% |
| 1998 | 126,605 | -5.6% |
| 1999 | 136,875 | +8.1% |
| 2000 | 144,185 | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 150,860 | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 163,603 | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 172,572 | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 176,147 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 190,556 | +8.2% |
| 2006 | 192,579 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 201,851 | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 208,262 | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 215,660 | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 222,525 | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 230,048 | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 229,850 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 227,949 | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 224,440 | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 225,090 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 220,172 | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 219,598 | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 220,797 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 211,090 | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 216,295 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 222,134 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 226,248 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 227,052 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 231,284 | +1.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 231,284 is above the median for high income countries, which is 12,609, 18.3× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 231,284 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15,678, 14.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +58.6% | 36,172 | 57,373 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13,461 | 10,435 | 16,876 | 9 |
| 1980s | 34,299 | 19,174 | 60,324 | 10 |
| 1990s | 98,290 | 69,390 | 136,875 | 10 |
| 2000s | 181,628 | 144,185 | 215,660 | 10 |
| 2010s | 223,156 | 211,090 | 230,048 | 10 |
| 2020s | 224,603 | 216,295 | 231,284 | 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 tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Korea?
- Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Korea was 231,284 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 231,284 in 2024.
- What is the lowest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,435 in 1971.
- How does South Korea rank for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes?
- South Korea ranks 9th out of 185 countries with data for 2024.
- Is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. 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 tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release