Korea Secondary Enrollment
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) SE.SEC.ENRR
Korea's secondary enrollment was 96.16% in 2025, ranked 79th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Korea's secondary enrollment stood at 96.16% in 2025, a decline of +0.14pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 96.16% by 2025. Korea ranked 79th globally.
South Korea’s secondary‑school enrollment rate has slipped from a high of 99.32 % in 2018 to 96.16 % in 2025, placing the country 79th globally and marking the lowest point in the 25‑year series. The decline follows a gradual downward trend after the early‑2000s peak of 98.09 % and contrasts with peers such as Israel, whose 2025 rate of 96.80 % remains slightly higher, and Mexico at 96.91 %. The trough in 2025 coincides with broader demographic shifts, including a falling youth population and rising private‑school competition, which have reduced the proportion of students enrolled in public secondary education. While the rate remains well above the regional average, sustaining the current level will require policies that address population ageing and improve the attractiveness of secondary schooling. If such measures are implemented, the downward trajectory could be halted and potentially reversed in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Secondary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 95.81% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 96.16% | - | - |
| 2025 | 96.16% | −0.14pp | #79 |
| 2023 | 96.30% | −1.52pp | #63 |
| 2022 | 97.82% | −0.25pp | #61 |
| 2021 | 98.07% | +0.98pp | #65 |
| 2020 | 97.09% | −1.29pp | #66 |
| 2019 | 98.38% | −0.94pp | #66 |
| 2018 | 99.32% | +0.21pp | #63 |
| 2017 | 99.11% | +0.39pp | #61 |
| 2016 | 98.72% | +0.12pp | #61 |
| 2015 | 98.59% | +0.01pp | #64 |
| 2014 | 98.58% | +0.75pp | #57 |
| 2013 | 97.83% | +0.46pp | #53 |
| 2012 | 97.37% | −0.16pp | #53 |
| 2011 | 97.53% | +0.24pp | #49 |
| 2010 | 97.29% | +0.41pp | #54 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Korea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2006. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw secondary enrollment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Korea's secondary enrollment was 96.16% in 2025. Ranked 79th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from the previous year.
Korea's secondary enrollment peaked at 99.32% in 2018.
The lowest secondary enrollment in Korea was 96.16% in 2025.
Korea ranks 79th globally in secondary enrollment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.SEC.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
Korea's secondary enrollment is projected to reach 96.16% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The secondary enrollment of Korea in 2025 was 96.16%. This ranks 79th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_korea_secondary-enrollment,
title = {Korea Secondary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/korea/secondary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}