Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa

SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes was 420,028 in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
420,028
Change on year
up 2.8%
Rank
126th
of 221 groups
All-time high
420,028
in 2021
All-time low
29,631
in 1978
Years of data
43
1978–2021

Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1978–2021

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1978199920211978: 29.6k1980: 36.0k1981: 40.9k1982: 49.4k1983: 52.0k1984: 52.9k1985: 57.2k1986: 60.0k1987: 61.1k1988: 65.1k1989: 67.8k1990: 71.3k1991: 77.4k1992: 83.7k1993: 90.8k1994: 101.0k1995: 107.9k1996: 116.4k1997: 124.9k1998: 134.2k1999: 142.9k2000: 147.9k2001: 153.8k2002: 162.1k2003: 168.5k2004: 167.0k2005: 180.9k2006: 194.1k2007: 202.1k2008: 219.0k2009: 241.0k2010: 263.7k2011: 292.0k2012: 306.7k2013: 326.1k2014: 326.2k2015: 333.5k2016: 350.2k2017: 374.6k2018: 372.1k2019: 396.2k2020: 408.6k2021: 420.0k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 420,028, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.

That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 43.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 420,028 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 29,631, in 1978.

SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 126th of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1978 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1978 29,631
1980 36,015 +21.5%
1981 40,896 +13.6%
1982 49,370 +20.7%
1983 52,004 +5.3%
1984 52,942 +1.8%
1985 57,196 +8.0%
1986 60,042 +5.0%
1987 61,149 +1.8%
1988 65,060 +6.4%
1989 67,845 +4.3%
1990 71,332 +5.1%
1991 77,409 +8.5%
1992 83,749 +8.2%
1993 90,750 +8.4%
1994 100,964 +11.3%
1995 107,945 +6.9%
1996 116,417 +7.8%
1997 124,948 +7.3%
1998 134,154 +7.4%
1999 142,884 +6.5%
2000 147,922 +3.5%
2001 153,844 +4.0%
2002 162,098 +5.4%
2003 168,538 +4.0%
2004 166,955 -0.9%
2005 180,925 +8.4%
2006 194,112 +7.3%
2007 202,135 +4.1%
2008 218,987 +8.3%
2009 241,019 +10.1%
2010 263,721 +9.4%
2011 292,042 +10.7%
2012 306,680 +5.0%
2013 326,074 +6.3%
2014 326,185 +0.0%
2015 333,532 +2.3%
2016 350,169 +5.0%
2017 374,600 +7.0%
2018 372,121 -0.7%
2019 396,238 +6.5%
2020 408,557 +3.1%
2021 420,028 +2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 29,631 29,631 29,631 1
1980s 54,252 36,015 67,845 10
1990s 105,055 71,332 142,884 10
2000s 183,654 147,922 241,019 10
2010s 334,136 263,721 396,238 10
2020s 414,292 408,557 420,028 2

Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 123 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 3,692 compare
  2. 124 Cyprus 3,669 compare
  3. 125 Botswana 3,247 compare
  4. 126 Macao 3,008 compare
  5. 127 Iceland 2,997 compare
  6. 128 Guinea 2,847 compare
  7. 129 Malta 2,826 compare

See the full ranking of 406 places →

More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 420,028 in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 420,028 in 2021.
What is the lowest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 29,631 in 1978.
How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes?
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 126th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
Is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 43.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 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 SDG: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/teachers-in-tertiary-education-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/sdg-sub-saharan-africa/

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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