Bhutan: Primary education, teachers

Key figures

Over five years it is up 35.91% from 2,481 in 2019 (6.33% a year on average, compounded). Since 1970 it is up 673.39% from 436 in 1970 (3.86% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 17 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, Bhutan's primary education, teachers rose 5.1% on 2023 (from 3,209 to 3,372).

Across the 25 yearly changes before that (1971 to 2023), the average change was +4.7% and a typical year strayed about 13.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 47.5% in 2013 and the biggest yearly fall was 38.8% in 2010. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 101.29 a year. A straight line explains 84% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Bhutan had the 90th highest value of the 108 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Bhutan in the 2024 ranking

• Maldives — 87th of 108: 4,691
• Comoros — 88th of 108: 3,952
• Brunei Darussalam — 89th of 108: 3,846
• Macao SAR, China — 91st of 108: 2,896
• Belize — 92nd of 108: 2,497
• Malta — 93rd of 108: 1,941

What this measures

Primary education, teachers refers to the total number of teachers at primary level, including full-time and part-time teachers.

Limitations: The precision of this indicator can be influenced by the enumeration method used, such as headcount or 'full-time equivalent' count of teachers.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 38 values

Primary education, teachers in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — 383,624 (2024)
• India — 5.19 million (2025)
• Maldives — 4,691 (2024)
• Nepal — 157,456 (2025)
• Sri Lanka — 73,333 (2023)

More education data for Bhutan

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 12 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 91,759 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 114.88% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 119.29% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 110.82% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.04 (2021)
• Primary education, pupils (% female)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Bhutan's primary education, teachers?

3,372 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 673.39% from 436 in 1970 (3.86% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 3,929 in 2009 and the lowest 436 in 1970.

How does Bhutan rank?

90th highest of 108 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in primary education, teachers unusual for Bhutan?

In 2024, Bhutan's primary education, teachers rose 5.1% on 2023 (from 3,209 to 3,372). Across the 25 yearly changes before that (1971 to 2023), the average change was +4.7% and a typical year strayed about 13.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.TCHR, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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