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

Republic of Korea: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of was 36.1% in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)
36.1%
World rank
30th
of 81 countries
All-time high
45.3%
in 1985
All-time low
9.9%
in 1970
Years of data
10
1970–2015

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

10203040501970199220151970: 9.91980: 18.71985: 45.31990: 351995: 35.62000: 39.62005: 37.72009: 382010: 37.42015: 36.1

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Republic of Korea is 36.1%, measured in 2015.

The figure is down 4.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Republic of Korea peaked at 45.3% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 9.9%, in 1970.

That places Republic of Korea 30th out of 81 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.

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

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is upper secondary, both sexes in Republic of Korea, 1970 to 2015.
Year Value Change
1970 9.9%
1980 18.7% +88.4%
1985 45.3% +142.0%
1990 35.0% -22.7%
1995 35.6% +1.8%
2000 39.6% +11.3%
2005 37.7% -5.0%
2009 38.0% +1.0%
2010 37.4% -1.6%
2015 36.1% -3.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 9.9% 9.9% 9.9% 1
1980s 32.0% 18.7% 45.3% 2
1990s 35.3% 35.0% 35.6% 2
2000s 38.4% 37.7% 39.6% 3
2010s 36.8% 36.1% 37.4% 2

Countries ranked near Republic of Korea

  1. 27 Chile 37.1% compare
  2. 28 Norway 36.9% compare
  3. 29 Sweden 36.9% compare
  4. 31 Peru 36.1% compare
  5. 32 Luxembourg 34.8% compare
  6. 33 Cayman Islands 34.7% compare

See the full ranking of 81 places →

More reference data data for Republic of Korea

All data for Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Republic of Korea?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Republic of Korea was 36.1% in 2015, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 45.3% in 1985.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 9.9% in 1970.
How does Republic of Korea rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of?
Republic of Korea ranks 30th out of 81 countries with data for 2015.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Republic of 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 upper secondary, 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 Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-whose-highest-level-of-education-is-upper-secondary/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is upper secondary, both sexes
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
81 places, 897 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of population (age 25 and over) with completed upper secondary education (ISCED 3) as the highest level of educational attainment. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of persons aged 25 years and above who completed upper secondary education 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/