Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled was 281,128 in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
281,128
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
26th
of 216 countries
All-time high
318,533
in 2017
All-time low
213,000
in 1987
Years of data
47
1971–2023

Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2023

0100.0k200.0k300.0k197119972023

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 281,128 for teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in 2023.

The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 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 26th of 216 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.

Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971 to 2023.
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%
1981 260,428 -3.7%
1982 250,510 -3.8%
1983 245,000 -2.2%
1984 243,000 -0.8%
1985 244,000 +0.4%
1986 228,500 -6.4%
1987 213,000 -6.8%
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%
2015 293,040 +7.6%
2016 313,649 +7.0%
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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 273,092 248,908 285,786 9
1980s 239,478 213,000 270,346 10
1990s 234,171 228,000 249,384 4
2000s 255,606 244,391 265,257 10
2010s 276,331 247,079 318,533 10
2020s 282,682 281,128 285,965 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 23 Iraq 286,890 compare
  2. 24 Germany 283,851 compare
  3. 25 Kenya 281,500 compare
  4. 27 Malaysia 273,792 compare
  5. 28 Italy 250,961 compare
  6. 29 Spain 248,253 compare

See the full ranking of 437 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 281,128 in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 318,533 in 2017.
What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 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 teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 26th out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
Is teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 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 Statizoid (derived), published as part of Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/teachers-in-primary-education-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/united-kingdom/

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How this figure is calculated

Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) with 786 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
437 places, 19,704 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) with 786 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.