Teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Southern Asia
SDG: Southern Asia: Teachers in primary education, both sexes was 6.70 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
6.70 million
Change on year
up 2.8%
Rank
37th
of 221 groups
All-time high
6.70 million
in 2024
All-time low
1.79 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Southern Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Southern Asia stood at 6.70 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Southern Asia peaked at 6.70 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.79 million, in 1971.
That places SDG: Southern Asia 37th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Southern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.14 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.79 million | -43.0% |
| 1972 | 1.85 million | +3.2% |
| 1973 | 1.92 million | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 1.96 million | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 2.06 million | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 2.10 million | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 2.20 million | +4.6% |
| 1978 | 2.16 million | -1.7% |
| 1979 | 2.18 million | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 2.25 million | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 2.33 million | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 2.41 million | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 2.63 million | +8.8% |
| 1984 | 2.76 million | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 2.81 million | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 2.91 million | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 2.87 million | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 2.97 million | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 3.13 million | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 3.20 million | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 3.30 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 3.41 million | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 3.55 million | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 3.66 million | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 3.72 million | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 3.77 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 3.84 million | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 3.87 million | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 3.97 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 4.06 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 4.05 million | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 4.08 million | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 4.35 million | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 4.46 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 4.58 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 4.67 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 4.81 million | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 4.97 million | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 5.11 million | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 5.28 million | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 5.45 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 5.52 million | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 5.99 million | +8.4% |
| 2014 | 6.03 million | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 6.06 million | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 6.25 million | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 6.13 million | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 5.85 million | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 6.11 million | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 6.34 million | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 6.38 million | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 6.37 million | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 6.52 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 6.70 million | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.14 million | 1.79 million | 3.14 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.71 million | 2.25 million | 3.13 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.63 million | 3.20 million | 3.97 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.51 million | 4.05 million | 5.11 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.87 million | 5.28 million | 6.25 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.46 million | 6.34 million | 6.70 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Southern Asia
More education data for SDG: Southern Asia
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 55.16 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.81 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 88.16 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.205 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 94.56 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 54.48 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 28.18 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.82 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Southern Asia?
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Southern Asia was 6.70 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Southern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.70 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Southern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.79 million in 1971.
- How does SDG: Southern Asia rank for teachers in primary education, both sexes?
- SDG: Southern Asia ranks 37th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is teachers in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Southern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Southern Asia 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
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release