Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal

Portugal: Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes was 47,042 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
47,042
Change on year
up 21.7%
World rank
39th
of 185 countries
All-time high
47,042
in 2023
All-time low
2,869
in 1971
Years of data
43
1971–2023

Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal, 1971–2023

010.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k50.0k1971199720231971: 2.9k1972: 3.5k1973: 3.9k1974: 4.2k1975: 4.7k1976: 7.9k1977: 9.0k1978: 8.3k1979: 10.5k1980: 10.7k1981: 10.7k1982: 11.4k1983: 12.6k1984: 12.5k1985: 11.3k1986: 12.5k1987: 12.8k1990: 13.2k1991: 14.4k1993: 21.9k1994: 23.3k2002: 35.7k2003: 36.2k2004: 36.4k2005: 36.8k2006: 37.4k2007: 36.1k2008: 35.2k2009: 35.4k2010: 36.2k2011: 38.1k2012: 37.1k2013: 35.5k2014: 33.5k2015: 32.3k2016: 32.6k2017: 33.2k2018: 34.2k2019: 35.3k2020: 35.5k2021: 36.5k2022: 38.7k2023: 47.0k

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 in Portugal, year by year

Annual values for Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in Portugal, 1971 to 2023.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 36 Guatemala 63,693 compare
  2. 37 Cuba 61,590 compare
  3. 38 Uzbekistan 51,065 compare
  4. 40 Lebanon 45,916 compare
  5. 41 Kazakhstan 43,764 compare
  6. 42 Switzerland 43,474 compare

See the full ranking of 406 places →

More education data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

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.

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Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/teachers-in-tertiary-education-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
406 places, 14,938 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release