UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary in South Korea

South Korea: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary was 96.5% in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)
96.5%
World rank
39th
of 70 countries
All-time high
96.5%
in 2015
All-time low
65.7%
in 1970
Years of data
10
1970–2015

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary in South Korea, 1970–2015

0204060801001970199220151970: 65.71975: 74.81980: 80.31990: 891995: 90.32000: 92.62005: 93.82009: 93.72010: 95.32015: 96.5

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2015, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary in South Korea stood at 96.5%. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

The figure is up 2.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary in South Korea peaked at 96.5% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 65.7%, in 1970.

South Korea ranks 39th of 70 countries on this measure, 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+ with at least some primary in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary (ISCED 1). Total in South Korea, 1970 to 2015.
Year Value Change
1970 65.7%
1975 74.8% +13.9%
1980 80.3% +7.3%
1990 89.0% +10.9%
1995 90.3% +1.5%
2000 92.6% +2.5%
2005 93.8% +1.3%
2009 93.7% -0.1%
2010 95.3% +1.7%
2015 96.5% +1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 70.2% 65.7% 74.8% 2
1980s 80.3% 80.3% 80.3% 1
1990s 89.7% 89.0% 90.3% 2
2000s 93.3% 92.6% 93.8% 3
2010s 95.9% 95.3% 96.5% 2

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 36 Bahrain 97.1% compare
  2. 37 Paraguay 96.9% compare
  3. 38 Macao 96.7% compare
  4. 40 Costa Rica 96.2% compare
  5. 41 Palestine 96.1% compare
  6. 42 Thailand 96.1% compare

See the full ranking of 70 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary in South Korea?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary in South Korea was 96.5% in 2015, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 96.5% in 2015.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 65.7% in 1970.
How does South Korea rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary?
South Korea ranks 39th out of 70 countries with data for 2015.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. 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+ with at least some primary (ISCED 1). Total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary 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-with-at-least-some-primary-isced-1-total/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary (ISCED 1). Total
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
70 places, 719 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of population (age 25 and over) with at least some primary education (ISCED 1). This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of persons aged 25 years and above with some primary education 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/