Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in Portugal
Portugal: Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) was 47,042 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal stood at 47,042. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 21.7% on the previous year and up 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal peaked at 47,042 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2,869, in 1971.
That places Portugal 39th out of 185 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2,869 | — |
| 1972 | 3,462 | +20.7% |
| 1973 | 3,876 | +12.0% |
| 1974 | 4,220 | +8.9% |
| 1975 | 4,745 | +12.4% |
| 1976 | 7,891 | +66.3% |
| 1977 | 9,025 | +14.4% |
| 1978 | 8,304 | -8.0% |
| 1979 | 10,503 | +26.5% |
| 1980 | 10,723 | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 10,695 | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 11,366 | +6.3% |
| 1983 | 12,608 | +10.9% |
| 1984 | 12,531 | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 11,272 | -10.0% |
| 1986 | 12,476 | +10.7% |
| 1987 | 12,790 | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 13,248 | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 14,432 | +8.9% |
| 1993 | 21,901 | +51.8% |
| 1994 | 23,347 | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 35,740 | +53.1% |
| 2003 | 36,191 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 36,402 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 36,773 | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 37,434 | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 36,069 | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 35,178 | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 35,380 | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 36,215 | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 38,064 | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 37,078 | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 35,482 | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 33,528 | -5.5% |
| 2015 | 32,346 | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 32,580 | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 33,160 | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 34,227 | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 35,283 | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 35,549 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 36,473 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 38,667 | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 47,042 | +21.7% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 47,042 is above the median for high income countries, which is 12,609, 3.7× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 47,042 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20,669, 2.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in Portugal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +66.3% | 4,745 | 7,891 |
| 2002 | +53.1% | 23,347 | 35,740 |
| 1993 | +51.8% | 14,432 | 21,901 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6,099 | 2,869 | 10,503 | 9 |
| 1980s | 11,808 | 10,695 | 12,790 | 8 |
| 1990s | 18,232 | 13,248 | 23,347 | 4 |
| 2000s | 36,146 | 35,178 | 37,434 | 8 |
| 2010s | 34,796 | 32,346 | 38,064 | 10 |
| 2020s | 39,433 | 35,549 | 47,042 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 36 Guatemala 63,693 compare
- 37 Cuba 61,590 compare
- 38 Uzbekistan 51,065 compare
- 40 Lebanon 45,916 compare
- 41 Kazakhstan 43,764 compare
- 42 Switzerland 43,474 compare
More education data for Portugal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal?
- Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal was 47,042 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 47,042 in 2023.
- What is the lowest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,869 in 1971.
- How does Portugal rank for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes?
- Portugal ranks 39th out of 185 countries with data for 2023.
- Is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release