Primary education, teachers in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Primary education, teachers was 338,716 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
338,716
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
17th
of 204 countries
All-time high
537,596
in 2020
All-time low
13,514
in 1971
Years of data
42
1971–2024

Primary education, teachers in Ethiopia, 1971–2024

0200.0k400.0k600.0k1971199720241971: 13.5k1972: 15.2k1973: 17.2k1974: 18.6k1975: 20.9k1976: 24.5k1977: 26.2k1978: 28.8k1979: 29.1k1980: 30.7k1981: 33.3k1982: 37.9k1983: 42.3k1984: 46.6k1985: 48.2k1986: 50.9k1987: 56.7k1988: 58.4k1989: 66.0k1990: 65.5k1991: 68.4k1992: 68.4k1993: 69.7k1994: 75.7k1995: 83.1k1996: 89.2k1997: 92.8k1998: 109.5k2000: 86.8k2008: 214.8k2009: 234.2k2010: 252.2k2011: 259.6k2012: 321.9k2014: 244.8k2015: 396.3k2017: 461.1k2020: 537.6k2021: 516.4k2022: 353.1k2023: 358.1k2024: 338.7k

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for primary education, teachers in Ethiopia is 338,716, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.4% on the previous year and up 38.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary education, teachers in Ethiopia peaked at 537,596 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 13,514, in 1971.

That places Ethiopia 17th out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Primary education, teachers in Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Primary education, teachers in Ethiopia, 1971 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1971 13,514
1972 15,196 +12.4%
1973 17,200 +13.2%
1974 18,646 +8.4%
1975 20,851 +11.8%
1976 24,469 +17.4%
1977 26,152 +6.9%
1978 28,816 +10.2%
1979 29,079 +0.9%
1980 30,687 +5.5%
1981 33,322 +8.6%
1982 37,854 +13.6%
1983 42,347 +11.9%
1984 46,622 +10.1%
1985 48,178 +3.3%
1986 50,922 +5.7%
1987 56,684 +11.3%
1988 58,400 +3.0%
1989 65,993 +13.0%
1990 65,450 -0.8%
1991 68,370 +4.5%
1992 68,399 +0.0%
1993 69,743 +2.0%
1994 75,736 +8.6%
1995 83,113 +9.7%
1996 89,189 +7.3%
1997 92,775 +4.0%
1998 109,487 +18.0%
2000 86,833 -20.7%
2008 214,811 +147.4%
2009 234,215 +9.0%
2010 252,232 +7.7%
2011 259,636 +2.9%
2012 321,894 +24.0%
2014 244,789 -24.0%
2015 396,302 +61.9%
2017 461,064 +16.3%
2020 537,596 +16.6%
2021 516,403 -3.9%
2022 353,124 -31.6%
2023 358,079 +1.4%
2024 338,716 -5.4%

Ethiopia compared with similar countries

  • Ethiopia's 338,716 is above the median for low income countries, which is 68,981, 4.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
  • Ethiopia's 338,716 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 50,688, 6.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Primary education, teachers in Ethiopia 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
2008 +147.4% 86,833 214,811
2015 +61.9% 244,789 396,302

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 21,547 13,514 29,079 9
1980s 47,101 30,687 65,993 10
1990s 80,251 65,450 109,487 9
2000s 178,620 86,833 234,215 3
2010s 322,653 244,789 461,064 6
2020s 420,784 338,716 537,596 5

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 14 Vietnam 380,535 compare
  2. 15 Iran 372,396 compare
  3. 16 Venezuela 352,723 compare
  4. 18 Russia 327,102 compare
  5. 19 Thailand 305,368 compare
  6. 20 Turkey 299,967 compare

See the full ranking of 249 places →

More education data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary education, teachers in Ethiopia?
Primary education, teachers in Ethiopia was 338,716 in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest primary education, teachers recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 537,596 in 2020.
What is the lowest primary education, teachers recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 13,514 in 1971.
How does Ethiopia rank for primary education, teachers?
Ethiopia ranks 17th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
Is primary education, teachers rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 38.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/primary-education-teachers/ethiopia/

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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.