Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) was 13,624 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka stood at 13,624.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 96.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 13,927 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1,487, in 1970.
Sri Lanka ranks 84th of 185 countries 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 (number) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1,487 | — |
| 1971 | 1,740 | +17.0% |
| 1973 | 1,904 | +9.4% |
| 1974 | 1,860 | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 2,000 | +7.5% |
| 1979 | 4,615 | +130.8% |
| 1981 | 4,652 | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 4,120 | -11.4% |
| 1983 | 3,395 | -17.6% |
| 1985 | 3,355 | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 3,726 | +11.1% |
| 1994 | 3,511 | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 5,278 | +50.3% |
| 2011 | 5,358 | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 5,560 | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 6,938 | +24.8% |
| 2014 | 7,109 | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 7,124 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 9,380 | +31.7% |
| 2018 | 10,107 | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 13,927 | +37.8% |
| 2020 | 12,630 | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 13,488 | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 13,381 | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 13,624 | +1.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 13,624 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19,749, 69% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 13,624 is above the median for South Asia, which is 13,624, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +130.8% | 2,000 | 4,615 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,268 | 1,487 | 4,615 | 6 |
| 1980s | 3,850 | 3,355 | 4,652 | 5 |
| 1990s | 3,511 | 3,511 | 3,511 | 1 |
| 2010s | 7,865 | 5,278 | 13,927 | 9 |
| 2020s | 13,281 | 12,630 | 13,624 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
- Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 13,624 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 13,927 in 2019.
- What is the lowest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,487 in 1970.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes?
- Sri Lanka ranks 84th out of 185 countries with data for 2023.
- Is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 96.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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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CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release