Number of classroom teachers in primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Number of classroom teachers in primary education was 281,128 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
281,128
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
7th
of 71 countries
All-time high
318,533
in 2017
All-time low
213,000
in 1987
Years of data
44
1971–2023
Number of classroom teachers in primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2023
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 281,128 for number of classroom teachers in primary education in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of classroom teachers in primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 318,533 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 213,000, in 1987.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 7th of 71 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
Number of classroom teachers in primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 248,908 | — |
| 1972 | 259,757 | +4.4% |
| 1973 | 271,074 | +4.4% |
| 1974 | 278,609 | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 282,793 | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 285,786 | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 280,315 | -1.9% |
| 1978 | 275,564 | -1.7% |
| 1979 | 275,020 | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 270,346 | -1.7% |
| 1982 | 250,510 | -7.3% |
| 1983 | 245,000 | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 243,000 | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 244,000 | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 213,000 | -12.7% |
| 1988 | 215,000 | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 225,000 | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 228,000 | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 229,100 | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 230,200 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 249,384 | +8.3% |
| 2000 | 248,148 | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 261,362 | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 264,111 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 262,390 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 258,966 | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 265,257 | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 249,862 | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 255,690 | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 244,391 | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 245,879 | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 252,290 | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 255,994 | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 247,079 | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 250,693 | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 272,430 | +8.7% |
| 2016 | 313,649 | +15.1% |
| 2017 | 318,533 | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 279,097 | -12.4% |
| 2019 | 280,505 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 281,266 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 285,965 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 282,367 | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 281,128 | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 273,092 | 248,908 | 285,786 | 9 |
| 1980s | 238,232 | 213,000 | 270,346 | 8 |
| 1990s | 234,171 | 228,000 | 249,384 | 4 |
| 2000s | 255,606 | 244,391 | 265,257 | 10 |
| 2010s | 274,474 | 247,079 | 318,533 | 9 |
| 2020s | 282,682 | 281,128 | 285,965 | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.37 million (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of classroom teachers in primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Number of classroom teachers in primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 281,128 in 2023, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest number of classroom teachers in primary education recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 318,533 in 2017.
- What is the lowest number of classroom teachers in primary education recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 213,000 in 1987.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for number of classroom teachers in primary education?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 7th out of 71 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of classroom teachers in primary education rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Number of classroom teachers in primary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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