Government expenditure on education, US$ in South Korea

South Korea: Government expenditure on education, US$ was 65,001 millions in 2016. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2016)
65,001 millions
World rank
11th
of 174 countries
All-time high
65,001 millions
in 2016
All-time low
307.44 millions
in 1970
Years of data
27
1970–2016

Government expenditure on education, US$ in South Korea, 1970–2016

020.0k40.0k60.0k1970199320161970: 307.4 millions1971: 370.3 millions1972: 349.8 millions1973: 371.9 millions1975: 455.1 millions1976: 823.7 millions1977: 932.9 millions1979: 2.0k millions1980: 2.3k millions1981: 2.1k millions1982: 5.0k millions1983: 3.8k millions1984: 3.9k millions1985: 4.0k millions1986: 4.2k millions1987: 5.0k millions1988: 5.5k millions1989: 7.6k millions1990: 8.6k millions1991: 11.5k millions1992: 12.7k millions1993: 14.5k millions1994: 14.0k millions1995: 16.6k millions1998: 12.9k millions1999: 16.8k millions2016: 65.0k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

South Korea recorded 65,001 millions for government expenditure on education, us$ in 2016. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, us$ in South Korea peaked at 65,001 millions in 2016 and was at its lowest, 307.44 millions, in 1970.

South Korea ranks 11th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Government expenditure on education, US$ in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions) in South Korea, 1970 to 2016.
Year millions Change
1970 307.44 millions —
1971 370.31 millions +20.5%
1972 349.85 millions -5.5%
1973 371.92 millions +6.3%
1975 455.13 millions +22.4%
1976 823.69 millions +81.0%
1977 932.87 millions +13.3%
1979 2,021 millions +116.6%
1980 2,262 millions +11.9%
1981 2,114 millions -6.5%
1982 4,960 millions +134.6%
1983 3,787 millions -23.6%
1984 3,906 millions +3.1%
1985 4,038 millions +3.4%
1986 4,248 millions +5.2%
1987 4,992 millions +17.5%
1988 5,484 millions +9.8%
1989 7,562 millions +37.9%
1990 8,611 millions +13.9%
1991 11,537 millions +34.0%
1992 12,720 millions +10.3%
1993 14,517 millions +14.1%
1994 13,993 millions -3.6%
1995 16,632 millions +18.9%
1998 12,911 millions -22.4%
1999 16,763 millions +29.8%
2016 65,001 millions +287.8%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 65,001 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 6,221 millions, 10.4× the median. (63 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 65,001 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,989 millions, 21.7× the median. (24 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Government expenditure on education, US$ 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.

YearChange FromTo
2016 +287.8% 16,763 millions 65,001 millions
1982 +134.6% 2,114 millions 4,960 millions
1979 +116.6% 932.87 millions 2,021 millions

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 704.03 millions 307.44 millions 2,021 millions 8
1980s 4,335 millions 2,114 millions 7,562 millions 10
1990s 13,460 millions 8,611 millions 16,763 millions 8
2010s 65,001 millions 65,001 millions 65,001 millions 1

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 8 Russia 73,828 millions compare
  2. 9 India 70,267 millions compare
  3. 10 Australia 68,159 millions compare
  4. 12 Spain 55,229 millions compare
  5. 13 Mexico 52,362 millions compare
  6. 14 Netherlands 43,154 millions compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on education, us$ in South Korea?
Government expenditure on education, us$ in South Korea was 65,001 millions in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 65,001 millions in 2016.
What is the lowest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 307.44 millions in 1970.
How does South Korea rank for government expenditure on education, us$?
South Korea ranks 11th out of 174 countries with data for 2016.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on education, US$ in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-education-us-millions/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on education, US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
174 places, 3,881 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) in millions US$ (nominal value). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. Total government expenditure for a given level of education (e.g. primary, secondary, or all levels combined) in national currency is converted to US$. Limitations: In some instances data on total government expenditure on education refers only to the Ministry of Education, excluding other ministries which may also spend a part of their budget on educational activities. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/