Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) in Australia
Australia: Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) was 105,469 in 1999. ▲ Rising
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in Australia, 1971–1999
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 1999, teachers in primary education, both sexes in Australia stood at 105,469. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes in Australia peaked at 105,469 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 67,114, in 1971.
Australia ranks 55th of 216 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 67,114 | — |
| 1972 | 69,496 | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 70,911 | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 73,745 | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 78,390 | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 81,747 | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 85,855 | +5.0% |
| 1978 | 87,878 | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 90,668 | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 91,386 | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 102,853 | +12.5% |
| 1986 | 90,685 | -11.8% |
| 1987 | 91,252 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 91,979 | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 92,820 | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 96,779 | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 97,955 | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 98,526 | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 101,035 | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 102,267 | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 103,774 | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 104,603 | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 105,469 | +0.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 105,469 is above the median for high income countries, which is 17,584, 6.0× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Australia's 105,469 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7,144, 14.8× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 78,423 | 67,114 | 90,668 | 9 |
| 1980s | 93,496 | 90,685 | 102,853 | 6 |
| 1990s | 101,301 | 96,779 | 105,469 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 52 Zambia 116,859 compare
- 53 Kazakhstan 113,317 compare
- 54 Ukraine 105,694 compare
- 56 Cote d'Ivoire 104,418 compare
- 57 Netherlands 98,851 compare
- 58 Angola 96,016 compare
More education data for Australia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 104,110 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 316,638 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 292,593 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.65 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.4362 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0835 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in primary education, both sexes in Australia?
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes in Australia was 105,469 in 1999, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 105,469 in 1999.
- What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 67,114 in 1971.
- How does Australia rank for teachers in primary education, both sexes?
- Australia ranks 55th out of 216 countries with data for 1999.
- Is teachers in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release