South Korea

Adult literacy in South Korea

Adult literacy in South Korea: 98% in 2008 and 98% in 2008, by UNESCO estimates.

Latest, 2008
98%
World, 2008
83.5%
Watch it change on the map

% of adults · UNESCO

Adult literacy in South KoreaAdult literacy in South Korea: 98% in 2008 and 98% in 2008, by UNESCO estimates. The world as a whole: 83.5% in 2008.
Estimates, UNESCOWorld

Every year

% of adults · UNESCO

YearSouth KoreaWorld
2024–87.7
2023–87.6
2022–87.4
2021–87.2
2020–87
2019–86.8
2018–86.8
2017–86.5
2016–86.3
2015–86
2014–85.6
2013–85.2
2012–84.9
2011–84.7
2010–84.4
2009–83.8
20089883.5
2007–83.1
2006–82.5
2005–82.6
2004–82.6
2003–82.2
2002–81.7
2001–81.4
2000–81.1
1999–80.9
1998–80.5
1997–79.3
1996–77.3
1995–76.9
1994–76.4
1993–76
1992–75.5
1991–75.1
1990–74.6
1989–74.1
1988–73.6
1987–71.9
1986–71.3
1985–70.7
1984–70.2
1983–69.5
1982–68.9
1981–68.4
1980–67.8
1979–67.2
1978–66.5
1977–65.9
1976–65.6
1975–65.4

Good to know

  • The share of people aged 15 and over who can read and write a short, simple statement about their everyday life.
  • Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, via the World Bank.
  • The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.

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