Primary education, teachers in Kenya

Kenya: Primary education, teachers was 281,500 in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
281,500
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
25th
of 204 countries
All-time high
351,103
in 2016
All-time low
142,392
in 2002
Years of data
21
1998–2023

Primary education, teachers in Kenya, 1998–2023

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1998201020231998: 169.4k1999: 148.5k2000: 146.2k2001: 149.5k2002: 142.4k2003: 152.8k2004: 149.9k2005: 144.7k2006: 146.9k2007: 159.4k2008: 157.8k2009: 165.0k2012: 176.2k2014: 260.2k2015: 337.3k2016: 351.1k2019: 281.4k2020: 273.8k2021: 285.4k2022: 290.9k2023: 281.5k

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for primary education, teachers in Kenya is 281,500, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 3.2% on the previous year and up 59.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary education, teachers in Kenya peaked at 351,103 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 142,392, in 2002.

Kenya ranks 25th of 204 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Primary education, teachers in Kenya, year by year

Annual values for Primary education, teachers in Kenya, 1998 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1998 169,410
1999 148,469 -12.4%
2000 146,205 -1.5%
2001 149,501 +2.3%
2002 142,392 -4.8%
2003 152,828 +7.3%
2004 149,893 -1.9%
2005 144,744 -3.4%
2006 146,879 +1.5%
2007 159,407 +8.5%
2008 157,843 -1.0%
2009 165,002 +4.5%
2012 176,243 +6.8%
2014 260,197 +47.6%
2015 337,252 +29.6%
2016 351,103 +4.1%
2019 281,374 -19.9%
2020 273,765 -2.7%
2021 285,423 +4.3%
2022 290,919 +1.9%
2023 281,500 -3.2%

Kenya compared with similar countries

  • Kenya's 281,500 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46,016, 6.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • Kenya's 281,500 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 50,688, 5.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Primary education, teachers in Kenya 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
2014 +47.6% 176,243 260,197

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 158,940 148,469 169,410 2
2000s 151,469 142,392 165,002 10
2010s 281,234 176,243 351,103 5
2020s 282,902 273,765 290,919 4

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 22 South Africa 287,310 compare
  2. 23 Iraq 286,890 compare
  3. 24 Germany 283,851 compare
  4. 26 United Kingdom 281,128 compare
  5. 27 Malaysia 273,792 compare
  6. 28 Italy 250,961 compare

See the full ranking of 249 places →

More education data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary education, teachers in Kenya?
Primary education, teachers in Kenya was 281,500 in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest primary education, teachers recorded in Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 351,103 in 2016.
What is the lowest primary education, teachers recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 142,392 in 2002.
How does Kenya rank for primary education, teachers?
Kenya ranks 25th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
Is primary education, teachers rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is up 59.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Kenya 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 Kenya. 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/kenya/

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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.