First-Grade Student Numbers Decline in South Korea
As South Korea’s population decline accelerates, a notable decrease is being observed in the number of students starting elementary school. According to the latest report released by the Ministry of Education, 298,178 students are expected to enroll in elementary schools nationwide in March, when the 2026 academic year begins. This figure indicates that the number of first-grade students will fall below 300,000 for the first time in the country’s history.
According to ministry data, this number represents a 15.5 percent decrease compared to the 353,000 enrollments recorded in 2024. In a forecast published last year, the Ministry of Education had expected the number of first-grade students to fall below 300,000 in 2027. However, this projection was revised and brought forward by one year after accounting for rapid changes in the registered population and updated school enrollment rates.
Looking at long-term trends, the number of first-grade students stood at approximately 710,000 in 1999, before declining to 468,000 in 2009. It then remained in the 400,000 range for more than a decade, dropping to 353,000 in 2024 and 324,000 in 2025. The ministry projects that if the current trend continues, the figure will fall to 277,000 in 2027, 232,000 in 2030, and approximately 220,000 in 2031. This would represent a 32 percent decrease compared to 2026.The rapid decline in the student population has also fueled nationwide discussions over school closures and potential reductions in teacher numbers, highlighting growing challenges for the country’s education system.