South Korea: Literacy rate

The latest value from 2018 is 98.8 percent, an increase from 98 percent in 2008. In comparison, the world average is 82.10 percent, based on data from 47 countries. Historically, the average for South Korea from 2008 to 2018 is 98.4 percent. The minimum value, 98 percent, was reached in 2008 while the maximum of 98.8 percent was recorded in 2018. See the global rankings or world map for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

Definition: 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.