Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in South Korea

South Korea: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ was 13,947 millions in 2016. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2016)
13,947 millions
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
12th
of 153 countries
All-time high
13,947 millions
in 2016
All-time low
186.82 millions
in 1970
Years of data
28
1970–2016

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

05.0k10.0k15.0k1970199320161970: 186.8 millions1971: 227.6 millions1972: 208 millions1973: 212.6 millions1975: 239 millions1976: 368.6 millions1977: 268.7 millions1979: 595.3 millions1980: 635.8 millions1981: 511.9 millions1982: 3.4k millions1983: 1.1k millions1984: 1.2k millions1985: 1.2k millions1986: 1.1k millions1987: 1.1k millions1988: 953.4 millions1989: 1.2k millions1990: 1.2k millions1991: 1.3k millions1992: 1.5k millions1993: 1.6k millions1994: 1.4k millions1995: 1.5k millions1998: 2.5k millions1999: 3.5k millions2015: 13.6k millions2016: 13.9k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

South Korea recorded 13,947 millions for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in 2016. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in South Korea peaked at 13,947 millions in 2016 and was at its lowest, 186.82 millions, in 1970.

That places South Korea 12th out of 153 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top 10%.

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

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

Annual values for Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions) in South Korea, 1970 to 2016.
Year millions Change
1970 186.82 millions —
1971 227.56 millions +21.8%
1972 208.03 millions -8.6%
1973 212.55 millions +2.2%
1975 238.96 millions +12.4%
1976 368.62 millions +54.3%
1977 268.67 millions -27.1%
1979 595.3 millions +121.6%
1980 635.8 millions +6.8%
1981 511.95 millions -19.5%
1982 3,393 millions +562.8%
1983 1,085 millions -68.0%
1984 1,202 millions +10.8%
1985 1,166 millions -3.1%
1986 1,100 millions -5.6%
1987 1,137 millions +3.4%
1988 953.42 millions -16.1%
1989 1,186 millions +24.4%
1990 1,238 millions +4.4%
1991 1,340 millions +8.3%
1992 1,453 millions +8.4%
1993 1,624 millions +11.8%
1994 1,373 millions -15.4%
1995 1,484 millions +8.1%
1998 2,470 millions +66.4%
1999 3,485 millions +41.1%
2015 13,640 millions +291.4%
2016 13,947 millions +2.2%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 13,947 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,521 millions, 9.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 13,947 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,045 millions, 6.8× the median. (20 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant 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
1982 +562.8% 511.95 millions 3,393 millions
2015 +291.4% 3,485 millions 13,640 millions

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 288.31 millions 186.82 millions 595.3 millions 8
1980s 1,237 millions 511.95 millions 3,393 millions 10
1990s 1,808 millions 1,238 millions 3,485 millions 8
2010s 13,794 millions 13,640 millions 13,947 millions 2

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 9 India 18,839 millions compare
  2. 10 Australia 17,118 millions compare
  3. 11 Italy 14,745 millions compare
  4. 13 Netherlands 13,241 millions compare
  5. 14 Spain 12,263 millions compare
  6. 15 Russia 12,238 millions compare

See the full ranking of 153 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in South Korea?
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in South Korea was 13,947 millions in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 13,947 millions in 2016.
What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 186.82 millions in 1970.
How does South Korea rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
South Korea ranks 12th out of 153 countries with data for 2016.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
153 places, 3,093 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on tertiary education (current, capital, and transfers) in millions US$ in constant value (taking into account inflation). 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$, and where it is expressed in constant value, uses a GDP deflator to account for inflation. The constant prices base year is normally three years before the year of the data release. For example, in the July 2017 data release, constant US$ values are expressed in 2014 prices. 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/