UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Korea

South Korea: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of was 24.2% in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)
24.2%
World rank
7th
of 84 countries
All-time high
31.6%
in 2005
All-time low
5.7%
in 1970
Years of data
11
1970–2015

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Korea, 1970–2015

1020301970199220151970: 5.71975: 6.91980: 8.91985: 11.71990: 13.41995: 20.82000: 242005: 31.62009: 282010: 20.82015: 24.2

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Korea is 24.2%, measured in 2015.

The figure is down 23.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Korea peaked at 31.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 5.7%, in 1970.

That places South Korea 7th out of 84 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is Bachelor's or equivalent (ISCED 6), both sexes in South Korea, 1970 to 2015.
Year Value Change
1970 5.7%
1975 6.9% +20.3%
1980 8.9% +29.2%
1985 11.7% +31.3%
1990 13.4% +14.4%
1995 20.8% +55.4%
2000 24.0% +15.4%
2005 31.6% +31.4%
2009 28.0% -11.3%
2010 20.8% -25.7%
2015 24.2% +16.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 6.3% 5.7% 6.9% 2
1980s 10.3% 8.9% 11.7% 2
1990s 17.1% 13.4% 20.8% 2
2000s 27.9% 24.0% 31.6% 3
2010s 22.5% 20.8% 24.2% 2

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 4 Kazakhstan 34.0% compare
  2. 5 Singapore 31.6% compare
  3. 6 Bulgaria 24.7% compare
  4. 8 Venezuela 24.1% compare
  5. 9 Australia 23.3% compare
  6. 10 Hong Kong 22.9% compare

See the full ranking of 84 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Korea?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Korea was 24.2% in 2015, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 31.6% in 2005.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 5.7% in 1970.
How does South Korea rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of?
South Korea ranks 7th out of 84 countries with data for 2015.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is Bachelor's or equivalent (ISCED 6), both sexes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-whose-highest-level-of-education-is-bachelor-s-or/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is Bachelor's or equivalent (ISCED 6), both sexes
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
84 places, 932 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of population (age 25 and over) with a completed bachelor's or equivalent degree (ISCED 6) degree as the highest level of educational attainment. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of persons aged 25 years and above who completed a bachelor's or equivalent degree as the highest level of educational attainment by the total population of the same age group and multiplying the result by 100. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) educational attainment dataset shows the educational composition of the population aged 25 years and above and hence the stock and quality of human capital within a country. The dataset also reflects the structure and performance of the education system and its accumulated impact on human capital formation. For more information, visit the UNESCO Institute for Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/