Teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Teachers in primary education, both sexes was 4.94 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.94 million
Change on year
up 0.8%
Rank
66th
of 221 groups
All-time high
4.94 million
in 2024
All-time low
650,988
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 4.94 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 4.94 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 650,988, in 1970.
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 66th of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 650,988 | — |
| 1971 | 663,999 | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 703,631 | +6.0% |
| 1973 | 742,772 | +5.6% |
| 1974 | 801,061 | +7.8% |
| 1975 | 841,577 | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 878,898 | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 949,530 | +8.0% |
| 1978 | 1.07 million | +13.1% |
| 1979 | 1.19 million | +10.4% |
| 1980 | 1.25 million | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 1.32 million | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 1.40 million | +6.0% |
| 1983 | 1.46 million | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 1.49 million | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 1.48 million | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 1.48 million | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 1.49 million | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 1.53 million | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 1.65 million | +7.8% |
| 1990 | 1.64 million | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 1.71 million | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 1.75 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 1.81 million | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 1.80 million | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 1.84 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 1.84 million | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 1.85 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 1.92 million | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 1.98 million | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 2.03 million | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 2.12 million | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 2.19 million | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 2.36 million | +7.6% |
| 2004 | 2.46 million | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 2.58 million | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 2.64 million | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 2.71 million | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 2.83 million | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 2.97 million | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 3.17 million | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 3.38 million | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 3.38 million | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 3.81 million | +12.8% |
| 2014 | 4.00 million | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 4.11 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 4.26 million | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 4.45 million | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 4.63 million | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 4.62 million | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 4.65 million | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 4.83 million | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 4.79 million | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 4.90 million | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 4.94 million | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 849,253 | 650,988 | 1.19 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.46 million | 1.25 million | 1.65 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.81 million | 1.64 million | 1.98 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.49 million | 2.03 million | 2.97 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.98 million | 3.17 million | 4.63 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.82 million | 4.65 million | 4.94 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25.10 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12.63 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 12.47 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 191.30 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 78.55 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 4.94 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.94 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 650,988 in 1970.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for teachers in primary education, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 66th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is teachers in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 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