Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes was 397,574 number in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
397,574 number
Change on year
down 0.3%
Rank
31st
of 43 groups
All-time high
398,626 number
in 2017
All-time low
40,471 number
in 1980
Years of data
39
1980–2018

Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1980–2018

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1980199920181980: 40.5k number1981: 45.3k number1982: 51.7k number1983: 54.3k number1984: 57.1k number1985: 61.4k number1986: 64.2k number1987: 65.2k number1988: 69.1k number1989: 71.9k number1990: 75.4k number1991: 80.3k number1992: 85.5k number1993: 94.5k number1994: 104.9k number1995: 111.1k number1996: 119.9k number1997: 127.7k number1998: 136.2k number1999: 146.3k number2000: 152.2k number2001: 160.0k number2002: 169.0k number2003: 174.6k number2004: 173.4k number2005: 187.4k number2006: 201.5k number2007: 209.8k number2008: 228.4k number2009: 251.7k number2010: 275.7k number2011: 303.9k number2012: 318.6k number2013: 338.6k number2014: 355.1k number2015: 362.3k number2016: 378.8k number2017: 398.6k number2018: 397.6k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa is 397,574 number, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 74.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 398,626 number in 2017 and was at its lowest, 40,471 number, in 1980.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2018, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes (number) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1980 to 2018.
Year number Change
1980 40,471 number
1981 45,339 number +12.0%
1982 51,657 number +13.9%
1983 54,250 number +5.0%
1984 57,143 number +5.3%
1985 61,361 number +7.4%
1986 64,181 number +4.6%
1987 65,223 number +1.6%
1988 69,115 number +6.0%
1989 71,894 number +4.0%
1990 75,443 number +4.9%
1991 80,311 number +6.5%
1992 85,458 number +6.4%
1993 94,480 number +10.6%
1994 104,918 number +11.0%
1995 111,140 number +5.9%
1996 119,877 number +7.9%
1997 127,691 number +6.5%
1998 136,203 number +6.7%
1999 146,276 number +7.4%
2000 152,192 number +4.0%
2001 160,044 number +5.2%
2002 168,999 number +5.6%
2003 174,573 number +3.3%
2004 173,383 number -0.7%
2005 187,433 number +8.1%
2006 201,517 number +7.5%
2007 209,808 number +4.1%
2008 228,414 number +8.9%
2009 251,745 number +10.2%
2010 275,717 number +9.5%
2011 303,943 number +10.2%
2012 318,590 number +4.8%
2013 338,622 number +6.3%
2014 355,084 number +4.9%
2015 362,269 number +2.0%
2016 378,769 number +4.6%
2017 398,626 number +5.2%
2018 397,574 number -0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 58,063 number 40,471 number 71,894 number 10
1990s 108,180 number 75,443 number 146,276 number 10
2000s 190,811 number 152,192 number 251,745 number 10
2010s 347,688 number 275,717 number 398,626 number 9

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 28 Italy 92,744 number compare
  2. 29 Saudi Arabia 84,176 number compare
  3. 30 Malaysia 76,840 number compare
  4. 31 Netherlands 69,777 number compare
  5. 32 Nigeria 66,975 number compare
  6. 33 Cuba 61,737 number compare
  7. 34 Austria 59,911 number compare

See the full ranking of 221 places →

More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa was 397,574 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 398,626 number in 2017.
What is the lowest teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 40,471 number in 1980.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2018.
Is teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 74.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this 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 — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Teachers in tertiary education programmes, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa. 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/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 4.0 (World Bank Open Data); please keep the attribution.

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

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.