Europe & Central Asia: Primary education, teachers

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Europe & Central Asia's primary education, teachers rose 0.3% on 2023 (from 3.51 million to 3.52 million).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +0.3% and a typical year strayed about 1.2% 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 14.4% in 1971 and the biggest yearly fall was 2.3% in 1981. 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 10,665 a year. A straight line explains 38% 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

See how every economy compares in the full ranking.

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 55 values

Primary education, teachers in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 163,167 (2023)
• Algeria — 247,748 (2025)
• Bahrain — 9,404 (2024)
• Djibouti — 2,739 (2023)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 483,053 (2024)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 372,396 (2023)
• Israel — 92,770 (2024)
• Jordan — 64,348 (2024)
• Kuwait — 32,782 (2021)
• Lebanon — 36,699 (2024)
• Malta — 1,941 (2024)
• Morocco

More education data for Europe & Central Asia

• Primary education, duration (years) — 5 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 52.35 million (2024)
• Primary education, teachers (% female) — 85.99% (2024)
• Secondary education, pupils — 83.79 million (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
• School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.99 (2020)
• School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.99 (2020)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Europe & Central Asia's primary education, teachers?

3.52 million in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 41.53% from 2.48 million in 1970 (0.65% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 3.54 million in 2018 and the lowest 2.48 million in 1970.

Is the latest change in primary education, teachers unusual for Europe & Central Asia?

In 2024, Europe & Central Asia's primary education, teachers rose 0.3% on 2023 (from 3.51 million to 3.52 million). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +0.3% and a typical year strayed about 1.2% 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.

Where does this data come from?

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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