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

UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes was 418,916 in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
418,916
Change on year
up 2.8%
Rank
127th
of 221 groups
All-time high
418,916
in 2021
All-time low
29,521
in 1978
Years of data
43
1978–2021

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

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1978199920211978: 29.5k1980: 35.9k1981: 40.8k1982: 49.2k1983: 51.8k1984: 52.8k1985: 57.0k1986: 59.8k1987: 60.9k1988: 64.8k1989: 67.6k1990: 71.1k1991: 77.1k1992: 83.5k1993: 90.5k1994: 100.7k1995: 107.7k1996: 116.1k1997: 124.7k1998: 133.9k1999: 142.6k2000: 147.6k2001: 153.5k2002: 161.8k2003: 168.1k2004: 166.5k2005: 180.5k2006: 193.6k2007: 201.6k2008: 218.5k2009: 240.5k2010: 263.2k2011: 291.4k2012: 306.0k2013: 325.4k2014: 325.4k2015: 332.6k2016: 349.2k2017: 373.6k2018: 371.1k2019: 395.2k2020: 407.5k2021: 418.9k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

UIS: Sub-saharan Africa recorded 418,916 for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in 2021. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 418,916 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 29,521, in 1978.

UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 127th 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 1978 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1978 29,521
1980 35,882 +21.5%
1981 40,756 +13.6%
1982 49,222 +20.8%
1983 51,849 +5.3%
1984 52,780 +1.8%
1985 57,026 +8.0%
1986 59,804 +4.9%
1987 60,899 +1.8%
1988 64,792 +6.4%
1989 67,578 +4.3%
1990 71,062 +5.2%
1991 77,143 +8.6%
1992 83,476 +8.2%
1993 90,471 +8.4%
1994 100,684 +11.3%
1995 107,664 +6.9%
1996 116,136 +7.9%
1997 124,692 +7.4%
1998 133,882 +7.4%
1999 142,564 +6.5%
2000 147,603 +3.5%
2001 153,503 +4.0%
2002 161,755 +5.4%
2003 168,134 +3.9%
2004 166,532 -1.0%
2005 180,473 +8.4%
2006 193,649 +7.3%
2007 201,634 +4.1%
2008 218,499 +8.4%
2009 240,492 +10.1%
2010 263,185 +9.4%
2011 291,411 +10.7%
2012 306,031 +5.0%
2013 325,371 +6.3%
2014 325,396 +0.0%
2015 332,632 +2.2%
2016 349,165 +5.0%
2017 373,623 +7.0%
2018 371,080 -0.7%
2019 395,168 +6.5%
2020 407,478 +3.1%
2021 418,916 +2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 29,521 29,521 29,521 1
1980s 54,059 35,882 67,578 10
1990s 104,777 71,062 142,564 10
2000s 183,227 147,603 240,492 10
2010s 333,306 263,185 395,168 10
2020s 413,197 407,478 418,916 2

Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 124 Cyprus 3,669 compare
  2. 125 Botswana 3,247 compare
  3. 126 Macao 3,008 compare
  4. 127 Iceland 2,997 compare
  5. 128 Guinea 2,847 compare
  6. 129 Malta 2,826 compare
  7. 130 Benin 2,672 compare

See the full ranking of 406 places →

More education data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 418,916 in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 418,916 in 2021.
What is the lowest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 29,521 in 1978.
How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes?
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 127th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
Is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: 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 UIS: 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 UIS: 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/uis-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