Primary education, teachers in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Primary education, teachers was 163,167 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
163,167
World rank
40th
of 204 countries
All-time high
163,167
in 2023
All-time low
13,116
in 1970
Years of data
27
1970–2023

Primary education, teachers in Afghanistan, 1970–2023

050.0k100.0k150.0k1970199620231970: 13.1k1971: 14.7k1972: 14.8k1973: 16.3k1974: 17.6k1975: 18.6k1976: 20.4k1989: 17.1k1990: 15.1k1993: 16.2k1994: 20.1k1998: 32.6k1999: 26.4k2006: 110.3k2007: 110.3k2008: 113.8k2009: 115.5k2010: 118.9k2011: 121.6k2012: 129.1k2013: 131.0k2015: 142.9k2016: 140.5k2017: 132.3k2018: 134.1k2019: 135.8k2023: 163.2k

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for primary education, teachers in Afghanistan is 163,167, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary education, teachers in Afghanistan peaked at 163,167 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 13,116, in 1970.

Afghanistan ranks 40th of 204 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Primary education, teachers in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Primary education, teachers in Afghanistan, 1970 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1970 13,116
1971 14,651 +11.7%
1972 14,796 +1.0%
1973 16,293 +10.1%
1974 17,579 +7.9%
1975 18,558 +5.6%
1976 20,406 +10.0%
1989 17,089 -16.3%
1990 15,106 -11.6%
1993 16,160 +7.0%
1994 20,055 +24.1%
1998 32,593 +62.5%
1999 26,385 -19.0%
2006 110,313 +318.1%
2007 110,312 -0.0%
2008 113,763 +3.1%
2009 115,454 +1.5%
2010 118,858 +2.9%
2011 121,593 +2.3%
2012 129,093 +6.2%
2013 130,957 +1.4%
2015 142,880 +9.1%
2016 140,529 -1.6%
2017 132,347 -5.8%
2018 134,145 +1.4%
2019 135,751 +1.2%
2023 163,167 +20.2%

Afghanistan compared with similar countries

  • Afghanistan's 163,167 is above the median for low income countries, which is 68,981, 2.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
  • Afghanistan's 163,167 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 84,596, 1.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Primary education, teachers in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2006 +318.1% 26,385 110,313
1998 +62.5% 20,055 32,593

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 16,486 13,116 20,406 7
1980s 17,089 17,089 17,089 1
1990s 22,060 15,106 32,593 5
2000s 112,460 110,312 115,454 4
2010s 131,795 118,858 142,880 9
2020s 163,167 163,167 163,167 1

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 37 Morocco 189,855 compare
  2. 38 Colombia 180,781 compare
  3. 39 South Korea 173,133 compare
  4. 41 Nepal 157,456 compare
  5. 42 Yemen 144,824 compare
  6. 43 Syria 144,621 compare

See the full ranking of 249 places →

More education data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary education, teachers in Afghanistan?
Primary education, teachers in Afghanistan was 163,167 in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest primary education, teachers recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 163,167 in 2023.
What is the lowest primary education, teachers recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 13,116 in 1970.
How does Afghanistan rank for primary education, teachers?
Afghanistan ranks 40th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
Is primary education, teachers rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, teachers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary education, teachers in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/primary-education-teachers/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary education, teachers
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
249 places, 9,469 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Primary education, teachers refers to the total number of teachers at primary level, including full-time and part-time teachers.