Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) was 163,167 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in Afghanistan, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 163,167 for teachers in primary education, both sexes in 2023. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
That represents a change of up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes in Afghanistan peaked at 163,167 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 13,116, in 1970.
That places Afghanistan 40th out of 216 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) in Afghanistan, year by year
| 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 Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +318.1% | 26,385 | 110,313 |
| 1998 | +62.5% | 20,055 | 32,593 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More education data for Afghanistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 88,020 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 343,942 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 13,837 (2003)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 10,383 (2003)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.51 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.56 % change on previous year (2019)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1811 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in primary education, both sexes in Afghanistan?
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes in Afghanistan was 163,167 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 163,167 in 2023.
- What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,116 in 1970.
- How does Afghanistan rank for teachers in primary education, both sexes?
- Afghanistan ranks 40th out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is teachers in primary education, both sexes 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 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release