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

WB: Sub-saharan Africa: Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes was 435,139 in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
435,139
Change on year
up 2.8%
Rank
120th
of 221 groups
All-time high
435,139
in 2021
All-time low
39,979
in 1980
Years of data
42
1980–2021

Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa, 1980–2021

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1980200020211980: 40.0k1981: 44.9k1982: 53.3k1983: 56.0k1984: 56.9k1985: 61.2k1986: 64.0k1987: 65.1k1988: 69.0k1989: 71.8k1990: 75.3k1991: 81.4k1992: 87.7k1993: 94.7k1994: 104.9k1995: 111.9k1996: 120.4k1997: 128.9k1998: 138.1k1999: 147.0k2000: 152.3k2001: 159.4k2002: 168.5k2003: 174.6k2004: 174.5k2005: 189.5k2006: 204.1k2007: 212.1k2008: 230.3k2009: 252.8k2010: 276.1k2011: 304.4k2012: 319.6k2013: 339.6k2014: 339.7k2015: 346.4k2016: 363.5k2017: 388.3k2018: 386.5k2019: 410.6k2020: 423.3k2021: 435.1k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa is 435,139, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 43.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 435,139 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 39,979, in 1980.

WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 120th 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 WB: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in WB: Sub-saharan Africa, 1980 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1980 39,979
1981 44,860 +12.2%
1982 53,334 +18.9%
1983 55,968 +4.9%
1984 56,906 +1.7%
1985 61,160 +7.5%
1986 64,006 +4.7%
1987 65,114 +1.7%
1988 69,024 +6.0%
1989 71,809 +4.0%
1990 75,296 +4.9%
1991 81,374 +8.1%
1992 87,690 +7.8%
1993 94,701 +8.0%
1994 104,918 +10.8%
1995 111,898 +6.7%
1996 120,370 +7.6%
1997 128,897 +7.1%
1998 138,101 +7.1%
1999 146,989 +6.4%
2000 152,263 +3.6%
2001 159,352 +4.7%
2002 168,477 +5.7%
2003 174,614 +3.6%
2004 174,462 -0.1%
2005 189,544 +8.6%
2006 204,068 +7.7%
2007 212,080 +3.9%
2008 230,252 +8.6%
2009 252,791 +9.8%
2010 276,082 +9.2%
2011 304,389 +10.3%
2012 319,629 +5.0%
2013 339,616 +6.3%
2014 339,673 +0.0%
2015 346,371 +2.0%
2016 363,452 +4.9%
2017 388,338 +6.8%
2018 386,489 -0.5%
2019 410,630 +6.2%
2020 423,308 +3.1%
2021 435,139 +2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 58,216 39,979 71,809 10
1990s 109,023 75,296 146,989 10
2000s 191,790 152,263 252,791 10
2010s 347,467 276,082 410,630 10
2020s 429,224 423,308 435,139 2

Countries ranked near WB: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 117 Estonia 4,794 compare
  2. 118 Chad 4,757 compare
  3. 119 North Macedonia 4,496 compare
  4. 120 Congo 4,493 compare
  5. 121 Namibia 4,172 compare
  6. 122 Rwanda 4,023 compare
  7. 123 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 3,692 compare

See the full ranking of 406 places →

More education data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for WB: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa was 435,139 in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 435,139 in 2021.
What is the lowest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 39,979 in 1980.
How does WB: Sub-saharan Africa rank for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes?
WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 120th out of 221 groups with data for 2021.
Is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 43.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this WB: 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in WB: 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/wb-sub-saharan-africa/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/stat/teachers-in-tertiary-education-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/wb-sub-saharan-africa/">Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in WB: Sub-saharan Africa</a> — Statizoid

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