Teachers in primary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Teachers in primary education, both sexes was 287,310 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1977–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for teachers in primary education, both sexes in South Africa is 287,310, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 287,310 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 145,434, in 1978.
South Africa ranks 22nd of 216 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 146,753 | — |
| 1978 | 145,434 | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 153,624 | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 270,365 | +76.0% |
| 1994 | 213,890 | -20.9% |
| 1995 | 224,896 | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 181,668 | -19.2% |
| 1999 | 220,813 | +21.5% |
| 2000 | 213,300 | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 190,595 | -10.6% |
| 2002 | 211,600 | +11.0% |
| 2003 | 211,198 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 209,442 | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 232,999 | +11.2% |
| 2006 | 219,582 | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 220,308 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 221,065 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 212,296 | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 238,032 | +12.1% |
| 2011 | 213,440 | -10.3% |
| 2012 | 212,657 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 220,544 | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 219,579 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 249,103 | +13.4% |
| 2023 | 287,310 | +15.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 148,604 | 145,434 | 153,624 | 3 |
| 1990s | 222,326 | 181,668 | 270,365 | 5 |
| 2000s | 214,238 | 190,595 | 232,999 | 10 |
| 2010s | 225,559 | 212,657 | 249,103 | 6 |
| 2020s | 287,310 | 287,310 | 287,310 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
- 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 South Africa?
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 287,310 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 287,310 in 2023.
- What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 145,434 in 1978.
- How does South Africa rank for teachers in primary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is teachers in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release