Population by level of education in South Korea
South Korea: Population by level of education was 19.84 million people in 2100. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2100)
19.84 million people
World rank
37th
of 200 countries
All-time high
26.42 million people
in 2055
All-time low
204,300 people
in 1950
Years of data
31
1950–2100
Population by level of education in South Korea, 1950–2100
Source: Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 19.84 million people for population by level of education in 2100.
The figure is down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by level of education in South Korea peaked at 26.42 million people in 2055 and was at its lowest, 204,300 people, in 1950.
That places South Korea 37th out of 200 countries with data for 2100, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population by level of education in South Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 204,300 people | — |
| 1955 | 274,200 people | +34.2% |
| 1960 | 416,400 people | +51.9% |
| 1965 | 624,200 people | +49.9% |
| 1970 | 871,800 people | +39.7% |
| 1975 | 1.22 million people | +40.4% |
| 1980 | 1.78 million people | +45.5% |
| 1985 | 2.80 million people | +57.0% |
| 1990 | 4.36 million people | +56.1% |
| 1995 | 6.19 million people | +41.8% |
| 2000 | 8.28 million people | +33.9% |
| 2005 | 10.61 million people | +28.1% |
| 2010 | 12.89 million people | +21.4% |
| 2015 | 15.70 million people | +21.8% |
| 2020 | 18.33 million people | +16.8% |
| 2025 | 20.57 million people | +12.2% |
| 2030 | 22.35 million people | +8.6% |
| 2035 | 23.84 million people | +6.7% |
| 2040 | 25.09 million people | +5.2% |
| 2045 | 25.88 million people | +3.2% |
| 2050 | 26.26 million people | +1.5% |
| 2055 | 26.42 million people | +0.6% |
| 2060 | 26.34 million people | -0.3% |
| 2065 | 26.01 million people | -1.3% |
| 2070 | 25.49 million people | -2.0% |
| 2075 | 24.83 million people | -2.6% |
| 2080 | 23.93 million people | -3.6% |
| 2085 | 22.90 million people | -4.3% |
| 2090 | 21.83 million people | -4.6% |
| 2095 | 20.80 million people | -4.7% |
| 2100 | 19.84 million people | -4.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 19.84 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.96 million people, 6.7× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 19.84 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.65 million people, 5.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 239,250 people | 204,300 people | 274,200 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 520,300 people | 416,400 people | 624,200 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.05 million people | 871,800 people | 1.22 million people | 2 |
| 1980s | 2.29 million people | 1.78 million people | 2.80 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 5.28 million people | 4.36 million people | 6.19 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.45 million people | 8.28 million people | 10.61 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.29 million people | 12.89 million people | 15.70 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 19.45 million people | 18.33 million people | 20.57 million people | 2 |
| 2030s | 23.09 million people | 22.35 million people | 23.84 million people | 2 |
| 2040s | 25.49 million people | 25.09 million people | 25.88 million people | 2 |
| 2050s | 26.34 million people | 26.26 million people | 26.42 million people | 2 |
| 2060s | 26.18 million people | 26.01 million people | 26.34 million people | 2 |
| 2070s | 25.16 million people | 24.83 million people | 25.49 million people | 2 |
| 2080s | 23.42 million people | 22.90 million people | 23.93 million people | 2 |
| 2090s | 21.32 million people | 20.80 million people | 21.83 million people | 2 |
| 2100s | 19.84 million people | 19.84 million people | 19.84 million people | 1 |
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 population by level of education in South Korea?
- Population by level of education in South Korea was 19.84 million people in 2100, according to Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by level of education recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 26.42 million people in 2055.
- What is the lowest population by level of education recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 204,300 people in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for population by level of education?
- South Korea ranks 37th out of 200 countries with data for 2100.
- Is population by level of education rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by level of education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
De facto population withpost_secondary education in a country or region.