Teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa
UNICEF: Africa: Teachers in primary education, both sexes was 6.23 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.23 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
Rank
44th
of 221 groups
All-time high
6.23 million
in 2024
All-time low
950,170
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa is 6.23 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 22.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa peaked at 6.23 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 950,170, in 1970.
That places UNICEF: Africa 44th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 950,170 | — |
| 1971 | 968,951 | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 1.02 million | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 1.07 million | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 1.14 million | +6.1% |
| 1975 | 1.19 million | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 1.24 million | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 1.34 million | +7.4% |
| 1978 | 1.47 million | +9.8% |
| 1979 | 1.59 million | +8.7% |
| 1980 | 1.67 million | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 1.76 million | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 1.86 million | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 1.96 million | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 2.01 million | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 2.03 million | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 2.06 million | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 2.09 million | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 2.17 million | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 2.43 million | +11.9% |
| 1990 | 2.32 million | -4.6% |
| 1991 | 2.42 million | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 2.47 million | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 2.56 million | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 2.55 million | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 2.61 million | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 2.62 million | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 2.70 million | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 2.76 million | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 2.83 million | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 2.88 million | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 2.98 million | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 3.06 million | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 3.23 million | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 3.35 million | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 3.49 million | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 3.57 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 3.63 million | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 3.78 million | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 3.89 million | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 4.10 million | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 4.35 million | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 4.49 million | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 4.92 million | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 5.11 million | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 5.23 million | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 5.39 million | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 5.59 million | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 5.83 million | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 5.86 million | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 5.87 million | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 6.06 million | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 5.95 million | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 6.14 million | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 6.23 million | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.20 million | 950,170 | 1.59 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.01 million | 1.67 million | 2.43 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.58 million | 2.32 million | 2.83 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.39 million | 2.88 million | 3.89 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.09 million | 4.10 million | 5.86 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.05 million | 5.87 million | 6.23 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: Africa
- 41 Nepal 157,456 compare
- 42 Yemen 144,824 compare
- 43 Syrian Arab Republic 144,621 compare
- 44 Canada 141,045 compare
- 45 Madagascar 138,648 compare
- 46 Poland 135,357 compare
- 47 Mozambique 133,644 compare
More education data for UNICEF: Africa
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 29.65 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 50.51 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.35 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 54.20 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 9.24 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.29 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.23 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa?
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Africa was 6.23 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.23 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 950,170 in 1970.
- How does UNICEF: Africa rank for teachers in primary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Africa ranks 44th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is teachers in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UNICEF: 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
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release