Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal

Portugal: Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes was 34,227 number in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
34,227 number
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
43rd
of 176 countries
All-time high
38,064 number
in 2011
All-time low
2,869 number
in 1971
Years of data
38
1971–2018

Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal, 1971–2018

010.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k1971199420181971: 2.9k number1972: 3.5k number1973: 3.9k number1974: 4.2k number1975: 4.7k number1976: 7.9k number1977: 9.0k number1978: 8.3k number1979: 10.5k number1980: 10.7k number1981: 10.7k number1982: 11.4k number1983: 12.6k number1984: 12.5k number1985: 11.3k number1986: 12.5k number1987: 12.8k number1990: 13.2k number1991: 14.4k number1993: 21.9k number1994: 23.3k number2002: 35.7k number2003: 36.2k number2004: 36.4k number2005: 36.8k number2006: 37.4k number2007: 36.1k number2008: 35.2k number2009: 35.4k number2010: 36.2k number2011: 38.1k number2012: 37.1k number2013: 35.5k number2014: 33.5k number2015: 32.3k number2016: 32.6k number2017: 33.2k number2018: 34.2k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2018, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal stood at 34,227 number.

That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Portugal peaked at 38,064 number in 2011 and was at its lowest, 2,869 number, in 1971.

That places Portugal 43rd out of 176 countries with data for 2018, 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 2018.
Year number Change
1971 2,869 number
1972 3,462 number +20.7%
1973 3,876 number +12.0%
1974 4,220 number +8.9%
1975 4,745 number +12.4%
1976 7,891 number +66.3%
1977 9,025 number +14.4%
1978 8,304 number -8.0%
1979 10,503 number +26.5%
1980 10,723 number +2.1%
1981 10,695 number -0.3%
1982 11,366 number +6.3%
1983 12,608 number +10.9%
1984 12,531 number -0.6%
1985 11,272 number -10.0%
1986 12,476 number +10.7%
1987 12,790 number +2.5%
1990 13,248 number +3.6%
1991 14,432 number +8.9%
1993 21,901 number +51.8%
1994 23,347 number +6.6%
2002 35,740 number +53.1%
2003 36,191 number +1.3%
2004 36,402 number +0.6%
2005 36,773 number +1.0%
2006 37,434 number +1.8%
2007 36,069 number -3.6%
2008 35,178 number -2.5%
2009 35,380 number +0.6%
2010 36,215 number +2.4%
2011 38,064 number +5.1%
2012 37,078 number -2.6%
2013 35,482 number -4.3%
2014 33,528 number -5.5%
2015 32,346 number -3.5%
2016 32,580 number +0.7%
2017 33,160 number +1.8%
2018 34,227 number +3.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 6,099 number 2,869 number 10,503 number 9
1980s 11,808 number 10,695 number 12,790 number 8
1990s 18,232 number 13,248 number 23,347 number 4
2000s 36,146 number 35,178 number 37,434 number 8
2010s 34,742 number 32,346 number 38,064 number 9

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 40 Switzerland 36,406 number compare
  2. 41 Morocco 35,742 number compare
  3. 42 Sweden 35,478 number compare
  4. 44 Norway 34,002 number compare
  5. 45 Belgium 31,336 number compare
  6. 46 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 28,877 number compare

See the full ranking of 221 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 34,227 number in 2018, 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 38,064 number in 2011.
What is the lowest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 2,869 number in 1971.
How does Portugal rank for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes?
Portugal ranks 43rd out of 176 countries with data for 2018.
Is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. 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 22 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/teachers-in-tertiary-education-programmes-both-sexes-number/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
221 places, 5,942 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

Total number of teachers in public and private tertiary education institutions (ISCED 5-8). Teachers are persons employed full time or part time in an official capacity to guide and direct the learning experience of pupils and students, irrespective of their qualifications or the delivery mechanism, i.e. face-to-face and/or at a distance. This definition excludes educational personnel who have no active teaching duties (e.g. headmasters, headmistresses or principals who do not teach) and persons who work occasionally or in a voluntary capacity in educational institutions.