Jamaica: Secondary education, teachers

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Jamaica's secondary education, teachers fell 12% on 2023 (from 12,546 to 11,043).

Across the 19 yearly changes before that (1985 to 2023), the average change was −0.7% and a typical year strayed about 9.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 17.5% in 2022 and the biggest yearly fall was 16.9% in 2021. 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 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 20% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

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

How it compares

In 2024, Jamaica had the 63rd highest value of the 85 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 Jamaica in the 2024 ranking

• El Salvador — 60th of 85: 17,715
• Latvia — 61st of 85: 12,484
• Qatar — 62nd of 85: 12,368
• Namibia — 64th of 85: 10,653
• Mauritius — 65th of 85: 9,330
• Bahrain — 66th of 85: 8,964

What this measures

Secondary education, teachers refers to the total number of teachers at secondary 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 28 values

Secondary education, teachers in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 865 (2023)
• Aruba — 553 (2016)
• Bahamas, The — 2,192 (2024)
• Barbados — 1,244 (2024)
• Belize — 2,319 (2024)
• Bolivia — 72,283 (2024)
• Brazil — 1.02 million (2024)
• British Virgin Islands — 195 (2023)
• Cayman Islands — 380 (2024)
• Chile — 96,048 (2024)
• Colombia — 190,940 (2022)

More education data for Jamaica

• 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) — 5 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 211,097 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 97.3% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 97.08% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 97.5% (2024)
• Secondary education, pupils — 177,095 (2024)
• School enrollment, secondary (% gross) — 84.46% (2024)

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 Jamaica's secondary education, teachers?

11,043 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1975?

It is up 50.02% from 7,361 in 1975 (0.83% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 18,222 in 2010 and the lowest 7,361 in 1975.

How does Jamaica rank?

63rd highest of 85 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in secondary education, teachers unusual for Jamaica?

In 2024, Jamaica's secondary education, teachers fell 12% on 2023 (from 12,546 to 11,043). Across the 19 yearly changes before that (1985 to 2023), the average change was −0.7% and a typical year strayed about 9.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.SEC.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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