Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.

North Korea KP: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data was reported at 99.999 % in 2008. North Korea KP: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 99.999 % from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2008, with 1 observations. North Korea KP: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

North Korea KP: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 99.998 % in 2008. North Korea KP: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 99.998 % from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2008, with 1 observations. North Korea KP: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

This statistic describes the media literacy rate in South Korea in 2016, by ability. In 2016, 92.7 percent of the respondents were able to read text messages, while 58.1 percent could download videos.

South Korea literacy rate for 2018 was 98.80%, a 0.83% increase from 2008.

• South Korea literacy rate for 2008 was 97.97%, a 97.97% increase from .
• South Korea literacy rate for was 0.00%, a 0% increase from .
• South Korea literacy rate for was 0.00%, a 0% increase from .

The statistic shows the total population of South Korea from 2019 to 2023, with projections up until 2029. In 2023, the total population of South Korea was about 51.71 million people. Population of South Korea South Korea, also called Republic of Korea, has one of the highest population densities worldwide, i.e. a very high number of inhabitants per square kilometer. However, this does not equal bad standard of living; on the Human Development Index, which ranks countries by their level of living standards using key factors, such as unemployment rate, literacy rate, fertility and mortality rates, etc., South Korea is among the highest-ranked countries. When looking at the aforementioned key factors, South Korea indeed seems to offer a fairly stable environment for its inhabitants, economically and demographically: The country’s unemployment rate has been relatively steady for the past decade, its gross domestic product (GDP) is constantly increasing, and it is among the countries with the highest trade surplus worldwide. As for standard of living, life expectancy at birth in South Korea is among the highest worldwide – South Korea is even mentioned in a recent ranking of the best birthplaces for children. Despite the high population density, South Korea is now one of the countries with the lowest fertility rates, i.e. the number of babies born by women of childbearing age. This apparent discrepancy could be explained by a high number of immigrants coupled with the aforementioned high life expectancy.

UNICEF's country profile for Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

Demographics and preventive health characteristics of North Korean defectors in the Republic of Korea.

In 2024, South Korea scored 523 points on the English Proficiency Index (EPI), which corresponds to a moderate English language proficiency level. According to the source, the capital city, Seoul, had the highest points in the EPI among other South Korean cities.

Multivariate analysis for influenza vaccination coverage among North Korean defectors according to health literacy score.

In 1800, it is estimated that approximately 9.4 million people lived in the region of modern-day South Korea (and 13.8 million on the entire peninsula). The population of this region would remain fairly constant through much of the 19th century, but would begin to grow gradually starting in the mid-1800s, as the fall of the Joseon dynasty and pressure from the U.S. and Japan would end centuries of Korean isolationism. Following the opening of the country to foreign trade, the Korean peninsula would begin to modernize, and by the start of the 20th century, it would have a population of just over ten million. The Korean peninsula was then annexed by Japan in 1910, whose regime implemented industrialization and modernization policies that saw the population of South Korea rising from just under ten million in 1900, to over fifteen million by the start of the Second World War in 1939.

The Korean War Like most regions, the end of the Second World War coincided with a baby boom, that helped see South Korea's population grow by almost two million between 1945 and 1950. However, this boom would stop suddenly in the early 1950s, due to disruption caused by the Korean War. After WWII, the peninsula was split along the 38th parallel, with governments on both sides claiming to be the legitimate rulers of all Korea. Five years of tensions then culminated in North Korea's invasion of the South in June 1950, in the first major conflict of the Cold War. In September, the UN-backed South then repelled the Soviet- and Chinese-backed Northern army, and the frontlines would then fluctuate on either side of the 38th parallel throughout the next three years. The war came to an end in July, 1953, and had an estimated death toll of three million fatalities. The majority of fatalities were civilians on both sides, although the North suffered a disproportionate amount due to extensive bombing campaigns of the U.S. Unlike North Korea, the South's total population did not fall during the war.

Post-war South Korea Between the war's end and the late 1980s, the South's total population more than doubled. In these decades, South Korea was generally viewed as a nominal democracy under authoritarian and military leadership; it was not until 1988 when South Korea transitioned into a stable democracy, and grew its international presence. Much of South Korea's rapid socio-economic growth in the late 20th century was based on the West German model, and was greatly assisted by Japanese and U.S. investment. Today, South Korea is considered one of the world's wealthiest and most developed nations, ranking highly in terms of GDP, human development and life expectancy; it is home to some of the most valuable brands in the world, such as Samsung and Hyundai; and has a growing international cultural presence in music and cinema. In the past decades, South Korea's population growth has somewhat slowed, however it remains one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with total population of more than 51 million people.

In 2023, the private education participation rate of South Korean students stood at 78.5 percent, up from 78.3 percent in the previous year. Despite the government's effort to strengthen the public education system, many elementary, middle, and high school students in South Korea still resort to private education. A distinct academic culture: The role of hagwons The emphasis on education in South Korean society has played a crucial role in the country's economic success. A highly educated and skilled workforce has been pivotal in encouraging innovation and fueling economic development. Furthermore, the influence of Confucian values, which emphasize the importance of lifelong learning, continues to have a significant impact on the lives of Koreans. To raise their children's chances of attending the most prestigious schools and universities in the highly competitive education system, many parents enroll them in private academies known as hagwons. At these institutions, students often spend more than seven hours per week, frequently studying late into the day. The economics of the hagwon system Due to the competitive nature of education in the country, its education industry has continued to grow and has formed a substantial part of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). The sector thus provides a large number of jobs and remains financially lucrative. Spending on private education tends to rise substantially in proportion to household income, putting affluent families at an advantage. Consequently, South Korea’s declining fertility rate is often attributed to the considerable costs of education for children, among other factors.

In 2022, nearly 53 percent of adults in South Korea aged between 25 and 64 years completed tertiary education, which was an increase compared to the previous year. Moreover, in the same year, around 70 percent of South Koreans aged between 25 and 34 years attained tertiary education, making it the highest percentage among all OECD countries.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2023, around 32 percent of respondents stated that they had read more than one printed book within the last year. While the reading rate of printed books has decreased over the past decade, it is still ahead of other types of publications, such as e-books and audio books. The overall reading rate of all three types amounted to 43 percent that year.

Linguistic health literacy of the study participants (N = 95).

。KP：非文盲率：成年女性：15岁及以上女性百分比数据按年更新，12-01-2008至12-01-2008期间平均值为99.998%，共1份观测结果。CEIC提供的KP：非文盲率：成年女性：15岁及以上女性百分比数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的朝鲜 – 表 KP.世界银行：教育统计。

In 2024, people having household income of over five million South Korean won had the highest participation rate in non-formal education in South Korea, amounting to 37 percent. Moreover, for the people having an household income between three to five million South Korean won, the participation rate in non-formal education was nearly 32 percent.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2023, around 19.4 percent of respondents stated that they had read an e-book in the previous year. This represents a slight increase from the previous year. The rate of reading e-books had dropped in 2015, but has been regaining some popularity since then.

。KP：性别对等指数（GPI）：非文盲率：青年15-24岁数据按年更新，12-01-2008至12-01-2008期间平均值为1.000Ratio，共1份观测结果。CEIC提供的KP：性别对等指数（GPI）：非文盲率：青年15-24岁数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的朝鲜 – 表 KP.世界银行：教育统计。

In the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducted in 2022, students in South Korea scored 527 points in mathematics and 528 points in science, ranking second in both categories among the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). South Korean students were also third in the OECD in reading literacy.