Average years of schooling in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Average years of schooling was 12.51 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Republic of Korea, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling in Republic of Korea is 12.51 years, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Republic of Korea peaked at 13 years in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.11 years, in 1870.
Republic of Korea ranks 27th of 162 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 1.11 years | — |
| 1880 | 1.16 years | +4.5% |
| 1890 | 1.21 years | +4.3% |
| 1900 | 1.26 years | +4.1% |
| 1913 | 1.31 years | +4.0% |
| 1925 | 1.56 years | +18.9% |
| 1929 | 1.62 years | +4.0% |
| 1933 | 1.98 years | +22.5% |
| 1938 | 2.31 years | +16.4% |
| 1950 | 3.1 years | +34.2% |
| 1955 | 4.27 years | +37.7% |
| 1960 | 4.3 years | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 5.4 years | +25.5% |
| 1970 | 6.24 years | +15.6% |
| 1975 | 7.41 years | +18.7% |
| 1980 | 8.66 years | +16.9% |
| 1985 | 9.68 years | +11.7% |
| 1990 | 10.67 years | +10.3% |
| 1995 | 11.43 years | +7.2% |
| 2000 | 12.12 years | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 12.46 years | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 13 years | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 12.18 years | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 12.51 years | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 1.11 years | 1.11 years | 1.11 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.16 years | 1.16 years | 1.16 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.21 years | 1.21 years | 1.21 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.26 years | 1.26 years | 1.26 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.31 years | 1.31 years | 1.31 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.59 years | 1.56 years | 1.62 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 2.15 years | 1.98 years | 2.31 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 3.68 years | 3.1 years | 4.27 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.85 years | 4.3 years | 5.4 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 6.82 years | 6.24 years | 7.41 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 9.17 years | 8.66 years | 9.68 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 11.05 years | 10.67 years | 11.43 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 12.29 years | 12.12 years | 12.46 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 12.59 years | 12.18 years | 13 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.51 years | 12.51 years | 12.51 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More education data for Republic of Korea
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Republic of Korea?
- Average years of schooling in Republic of Korea was 12.51 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 13 years in 2010.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.11 years in 1870.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for average years of schooling?
- Republic of Korea ranks 27th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.