Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Asia

South Asia: Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes was 1.61 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
1.61 million number
Change on year
up 2.6%
Rank
20th
of 43 groups
All-time high
1.61 million number
in 2019
All-time low
208,776 number
in 1971
Years of data
49
1971–2019

Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Asia, 1971–2019

0500.0k1.0M1.5M197119952019

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Asia is 1.61 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.

That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 62.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Asia peaked at 1.61 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 208,776 number, in 1971.

That places South Asia 20th out of 43 groups with data for 2019, putting it 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 South Asia, year by year

Annual values for Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in South Asia, 1971 to 2019.
Year number Change
1971 208,776 number
1972 222,382 number +6.5%
1973 234,509 number +5.5%
1974 245,177 number +4.5%
1975 255,489 number +4.2%
1976 259,523 number +1.6%
1977 266,861 number +2.8%
1978 271,679 number +1.8%
1979 258,160 number -5.0%
1980 304,611 number +18.0%
1981 315,209 number +3.5%
1982 294,623 number -6.5%
1983 320,063 number +8.6%
1984 330,595 number +3.3%
1985 325,267 number -1.6%
1986 338,226 number +4.0%
1987 356,605 number +5.4%
1988 311,899 number -12.5%
1989 315,268 number +1.1%
1990 320,873 number +1.8%
1991 320,629 number -0.1%
1992 310,174 number -3.3%
1993 302,320 number -2.5%
1994 294,903 number -2.5%
1995 288,391 number -2.2%
1996 320,301 number +11.1%
1997 331,603 number +3.5%
1998 373,353 number +12.6%
1999 415,713 number +11.3%
2000 459,170 number +10.5%
2001 477,669 number +4.0%
2002 498,109 number +4.3%
2003 504,019 number +1.2%
2004 626,043 number +24.2%
2005 644,049 number +2.9%
2006 708,964 number +10.1%
2007 813,563 number +14.8%
2008 924,130 number +13.6%
2009 991,420 number +7.3%
2010 1.12 million number +12.5%
2011 1.41 million number +26.2%
2012 1.52 million number +8.1%
2013 1.52 million number +0.1%
2014 1.44 million number -5.3%
2015 1.55 million number +7.3%
2016 1.53 million number -1.1%
2017 1.55 million number +1.1%
2018 1.57 million number +1.2%
2019 1.61 million number +2.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 246,951 number 208,776 number 271,679 number 9
1980s 321,237 number 294,623 number 356,605 number 10
1990s 327,826 number 288,391 number 415,713 number 10
2000s 664,714 number 459,170 number 991,420 number 10
2010s 1.48 million number 1.12 million number 1.61 million number 10

Countries ranked near South Asia

  1. 17 Türkiye 158,098 number compare
  2. 18 Ukraine 152,977 number compare
  3. 19 Philippines 151,252 number compare
  4. 20 Argentina 142,283 number compare
  5. 21 France 109,827 number compare
  6. 22 Egypt 106,577 number compare
  7. 23 Peru 98,475 number compare

See the full ranking of 221 places →

More education data for South Asia

All data for South Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Asia?
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in South Asia was 1.61 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
The highest recorded value was 1.61 million number in 2019.
What is the lowest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 208,776 number in 1971.
How does South Asia rank for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes?
South Asia ranks 20th out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
Is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes rising or falling in South Asia?
Over the last ten years it is up 62.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Asia 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 South Asia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/teachers-in-tertiary-education-programmes-both-sexes-number/south-asia/

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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.