Theoretical duration of secondary education (years) in South Korea
South Korea: Theoretical duration of secondary education (years) was 6 years in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
6 years
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
99th
of 221 countries
All-time high
6 years
in 1970
All-time low
6 years
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Theoretical duration of secondary education in South Korea, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2025, theoretical duration of secondary education in South Korea stood at 6 years. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, theoretical duration of secondary education in South Korea peaked at 6 years in 1970 and was at its lowest, 6 years, in 1970.
That places South Korea 99th out of 221 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Theoretical duration of secondary education (years) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6 years | — |
| 1971 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 6 years | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 6 years | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 6 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 6 years, 1.0× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 6 years is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6 years, 1.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 99 Afghanistan 6 years compare
- 99 Angola 6 years compare
- 99 Andorra 6 years compare
- 99 Argentina 6 years compare
- 99 American Samoa 6 years compare
- 99 Australia 6 years compare
- 99 Belgium 6 years compare
- 99 Bahrain 6 years compare
- 99 Bahamas 6 years compare
- 99 Belize 6 years compare
- 99 Bolivia 6 years compare
- 99 Bhutan 6 years compare
- 99 Canada 6 years compare
- 99 Chile 6 years compare
- 99 China 6 years compare
- 99 Democratic Republic of Congo 6 years compare
- 99 Colombia 6 years compare
- 99 Cape Verde 6 years compare
- 99 Cuba 6 years compare
- 99 Curacao 6 years compare
- 99 Cayman Islands 6 years compare
- 99 Cyprus 6 years compare
- 99 Denmark 6 years compare
- 99 Dominican Republic 6 years compare
- 99 Ecuador 6 years compare
- 99 Egypt 6 years compare
- 99 Western Sahara 6 years compare
- 99 Spain 6 years compare
- 99 Estonia 6 years compare
- 99 Ethiopia 6 years compare
- 99 Finland 6 years compare
- 99 Micronesia (country) 6 years compare
- 99 Georgia 6 years compare
- 99 Ghana 6 years compare
- 99 Gambia 6 years compare
- 99 Guinea-Bissau 6 years compare
- 99 Equatorial Guinea 6 years compare
- 99 Greece 6 years compare
- 99 Guatemala 6 years compare
- 99 Hong Kong 6 years compare
- 99 Indonesia 6 years compare
- 99 Iran 6 years compare
- 99 Iraq 6 years compare
- 99 Israel 6 years compare
- 99 Jordan 6 years compare
- 99 Japan 6 years compare
- 99 Kenya 6 years compare
- 99 Cambodia 6 years compare
- 99 Lebanon 6 years compare
- 99 Liberia 6 years compare
- 99 Libya 6 years compare
- 99 Latvia 6 years compare
- 99 Macao 6 years compare
- 99 Morocco 6 years compare
- 99 Maldives 6 years compare
- 99 Mexico 6 years compare
- 99 Marshall Islands 6 years compare
- 99 Mali 6 years compare
- 99 Myanmar 6 years compare
- 99 Malawi 6 years compare
- 99 Malaysia 6 years compare
- 99 Nigeria 6 years compare
- 99 Netherlands 6 years compare
- 99 Norway 6 years compare
- 99 Nauru 6 years compare
- 99 Panama 6 years compare
- 99 Philippines 6 years compare
- 99 Palau 6 years compare
- 99 Papua New Guinea 6 years compare
- 99 Puerto Rico 6 years compare
- 99 North Korea 6 years compare
- 99 Portugal 6 years compare
- 99 Paraguay 6 years compare
- 99 Qatar 6 years compare
- 99 Rwanda 6 years compare
- 99 Saudi Arabia 6 years compare
- 99 Sudan 6 years compare
- 99 Saint Helena 6 years compare
- 99 El Salvador 6 years compare
- 99 South Sudan 6 years compare
- 99 Sao Tome and Principe 6 years compare
- 99 Sweden 6 years compare
- 99 Syria 6 years compare
- 99 Thailand 6 years compare
- 99 East Timor 6 years compare
- 99 Tanzania 6 years compare
- 99 Uganda 6 years compare
- 99 Uruguay 6 years compare
- 99 United States 6 years compare
- 99 British Virgin Islands 6 years compare
- 99 United States Virgin Islands 6 years compare
- 99 Yemen 6 years compare
- 99 Zimbabwe 6 years compare
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 theoretical duration of secondary education in South Korea?
- Theoretical duration of secondary education in South Korea was 6 years in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest theoretical duration of secondary education recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6 years in 1970.
- What is the lowest theoretical duration of secondary education recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 6 years in 1970.
- How does South Korea rank for theoretical duration of secondary education?
- South Korea ranks 99th out of 221 countries with data for 2025.
- Is theoretical duration of secondary education rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Theoretical duration of secondary education (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release