Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) in SDG: World
SDG: World: Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) was 34.10 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
34.10 million
Change on year
up 1.2%
Rank
1st
of 221 groups
All-time high
34.10 million
in 2024
All-time low
14.73 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: World, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: World is 34.10 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: World peaked at 34.10 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 14.73 million, in 1971.
That places SDG: World 1st out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) in SDG: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 15.76 million | — |
| 1971 | 14.73 million | -6.5% |
| 1972 | 15.42 million | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 15.93 million | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 16.37 million | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 16.83 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 17.24 million | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 17.51 million | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 17.70 million | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 17.89 million | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 18.70 million | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 19.07 million | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 19.65 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 20.04 million | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 20.34 million | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 20.53 million | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 20.71 million | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 20.96 million | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 21.63 million | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 22.08 million | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 22.11 million | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 22.36 million | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 22.76 million | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 23.01 million | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 23.36 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 23.46 million | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 23.76 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 24.31 million | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 24.26 million | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 24.68 million | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 24.94 million | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 25.25 million | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 25.29 million | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 26.00 million | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 26.71 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 26.93 million | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 27.07 million | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 27.59 million | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 27.83 million | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 28.21 million | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 28.71 million | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 29.23 million | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 29.48 million | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 30.59 million | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 30.92 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 31.37 million | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 32.10 million | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 32.06 million | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 32.19 million | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 32.73 million | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 32.98 million | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 33.38 million | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 33.29 million | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 33.69 million | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 34.10 million | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.54 million | 14.73 million | 17.89 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.37 million | 18.70 million | 22.08 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.41 million | 22.11 million | 24.68 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.58 million | 24.94 million | 28.21 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.94 million | 28.71 million | 32.73 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.49 million | 32.98 million | 34.10 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: World
More education data for SDG: World
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 651.68 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 25.09 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 314.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 106.27 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 100.30 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34.10 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.5777 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 404.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: World?
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes in SDG: World was 34.10 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: World?
- The highest recorded value was 34.10 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in SDG: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.73 million in 1971.
- How does SDG: World rank for teachers in primary education, both sexes?
- SDG: World ranks 1st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is teachers in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: World 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