Teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia
UNICEF: South Asia: Teachers in primary education, both sexes was 6.43 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
6.43 million
Change on year
up 2.9%
Rank
41st
of 221 groups
All-time high
6.43 million
in 2024
All-time low
1.69 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia is 6.43 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia peaked at 6.43 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.69 million, in 1971.
That places UNICEF: South Asia 41st 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 UNICEF: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.04 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.69 million | -44.5% |
| 1972 | 1.74 million | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 1.82 million | +4.3% |
| 1974 | 1.84 million | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 1.92 million | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 1.95 million | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 2.03 million | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 2.01 million | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 2.04 million | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 2.08 million | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 2.16 million | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 2.22 million | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 2.35 million | +5.7% |
| 1984 | 2.46 million | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 2.51 million | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 2.60 million | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 2.61 million | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 2.71 million | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 2.85 million | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 2.92 million | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 3.00 million | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 3.10 million | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 3.23 million | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 3.35 million | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 3.42 million | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 3.48 million | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 3.55 million | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 3.57 million | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 3.65 million | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 3.75 million | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 3.73 million | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 3.77 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 4.05 million | +7.3% |
| 2004 | 4.17 million | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 4.29 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 4.39 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 4.54 million | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 4.70 million | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 4.84 million | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 5.01 million | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 5.20 million | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 5.28 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 5.68 million | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 5.74 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 5.77 million | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 5.95 million | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 5.85 million | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 5.57 million | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 5.84 million | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 6.10 million | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 6.12 million | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 6.10 million | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 6.25 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 6.43 million | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.01 million | 1.69 million | 3.04 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.46 million | 2.08 million | 2.85 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.33 million | 2.92 million | 3.65 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.22 million | 3.73 million | 4.84 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.59 million | 5.01 million | 5.95 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.20 million | 6.10 million | 6.43 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: South Asia
- 38 Colombia 180,781 compare
- 39 Republic of Korea 173,133 compare
- 40 Afghanistan 163,167 compare
- 41 Nepal 157,456 compare
- 42 Yemen 144,824 compare
- 43 Syrian Arab Republic 144,621 compare
- 44 Canada 141,045 compare
More education data for UNICEF: South Asia
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 51.70 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.43 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 84.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1267 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 91.07 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 53.53 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.86 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 26.43 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia?
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia was 6.43 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.43 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.69 million in 1971.
- How does UNICEF: South Asia rank for teachers in primary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: South Asia ranks 41st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is teachers in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: South 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