Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in South Korea

South Korea: Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education was 85.4% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
85.4%
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
9th
of 47 countries
All-time high
92.3%
in 2009
All-time low
84.6%
in 2015
Years of data
6
2003–2018

Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in South Korea, 2003–2018

0204060801002003201020182003: 90.8 %2006: 91.6 %2009: 92.3 %2012: 91.1 %2015: 84.6 %2018: 85.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in South Korea is 85.4%, measured in 2018.

That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in South Korea peaked at 92.3% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 84.6%, in 2015.

South Korea ranks 9th of 47 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in mathematics, non-immigrant background, both sexes (%) in South Korea, 2003 to 2018.
Year % Change
2003 90.8%
2006 91.6% +0.9%
2009 92.3% +0.8%
2012 91.1% -1.4%
2015 84.6% -7.1%
2018 85.4% +0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 91.6% 90.8% 92.3% 3
2010s 87.0% 84.6% 91.1% 3

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 6 Finland 87.0% compare
  2. 7 Slovenia 86.2% compare
  3. 8 Poland 85.6% compare
  4. 10 Ireland 85.1% compare
  5. 11 Canada 85.0% compare
  6. 12 Germany 84.8% compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in South Korea?
Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in South Korea was 85.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 92.3% in 2009.
What is the lowest proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 84.6% in 2015.
How does South Korea rank for proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education?
South Korea ranks 9th out of 47 countries with data for 2018.
Is proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in mathematics, non-immigrant background, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-students-at-the-end-of-lower-secondary-education-achieving-at-least-a-8/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in mathematics, non-immigrant background, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
47 places, 300 data points, 1995–2018
Last refreshed

Percentage of children at the end of lower secondary education reaching at least a minimum proficiency level in mathematics. A minimum proficiency level (MPL) is the benchmark of basic knowledge in a domain (mathematics, reading, etc.) measured through learning assessments. The indicator is calculated as the number of children and/or young people at the relevant stage of education n in a given year t achieving or exceeding the pre-defined proficiency level in a given subject s, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children and/or young people at stage of education n, in year t, in any proficiency level in subject s. The higher the value of the indicator, the higher the proportion of children or young adults who have acquired the minimum level of meaningful competencies. Data are calculated by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics from sources that include the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Programme for International Student Assessment for Development (PISA-D), Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), El Laboratorio Latino americano de Evaluación de la Calidad de la Educación (LLECE), Programme d’analyse des systèmes éducatifs de la confemen (PASEC), Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Education Quality (SACMEQ), Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA), national assessments data collected through the Catalogue of Learning Assessments (CLA) and/or available in national reports, and population-based assessments (Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA), UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), People’s Action for Learning (PAL) NETWORK: e.g. Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), UWEZO, etc.)). For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute for Statistics: http://uis.unesco.org/