Estonia: Primary education, teachers

Key figures

Over five years it is up 8.08% from 7,982 in 2019 (1.57% a year on average, compounded). Since 1994 it is up 31.12% from 6,580 in 1994 (0.91% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 10 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, Estonia's primary education, teachers rose 1.8% on 2023 (from 8,475 to 8,627).

Across the 16 yearly changes before that (2000 to 2023), the average change was +0.4% and a typical year strayed about 6.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 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 6.6% in 2000 and the biggest yearly fall was 21.1% in 2007. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 164.73 a year. A straight line explains 95% of the movement over 9 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, Estonia had the 79th 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 Estonia in the 2024 ranking

• Bahrain — 75th of 108: 9,404
• Albania — 76th of 108: 9,336
• Lithuania — 77th of 108: 8,888
• Trinidad and Tobago — 79th of 108: 7,693
• Armenia — 80th of 108: 7,540
• Moldova — 81st of 108: 7,408

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 21 values

Primary education, teachers in nearby economies

• Albania — 9,336 (2024)
• Andorra — 413 (2024)
• Armenia — 7,540 (2024)
• Austria — 35,752 (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 38,731 (2024)
• Belarus — 22,228 (2024)
• Belgium — 80,763 (2023)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 9,722 (2023)
• Bulgaria — 22,710 (2024)
• Croatia — 13,441 (2023)
• Cyprus — 5,389 (2023)
• Denmark

More education data for Estonia

• Primary school starting age (years) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 13 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 89,246 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 94.31% (2019)
• Primary education, pupils (% female) — 48.52% (2017)
• Secondary education, general pupils — 63,544 (2017)
• Secondary education, general pupils (% female)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Estonia's primary education, teachers?

8,627 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1994?

It is up 31.12% from 6,580 in 1994 (0.91% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 8,627 in 2024 and the lowest 5,927 in 2007.

How does Estonia rank?

79th highest of 108 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Estonia's primary education, teachers rose 1.8% on 2023 (from 8,475 to 8,627). Across the 16 yearly changes before that (2000 to 2023), the average change was +0.4% and a typical year strayed about 6.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 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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