Malaysia: Secondary education, teachers

Key figures

Over five years it is down 5.04% from 228,634 in 2019 (1.03% a year on average, compounded). Since 1970 it is up 813.13% from 23,776 in 1970 (4.18% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 6 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, Malaysia's secondary education, teachers fell 9.2% on 2023 (from 239,115 to 217,105).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1989 to 2023), the average change was +4% and a typical year strayed about 3.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 3.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 17.6% in 1980 and the biggest yearly fall was 9.2% in 2024. 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 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 23% of the movement over 9 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, Malaysia had the 18th 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 Malaysia in the 2024 ranking

• Saudi Arabia — 15th of 85: 242,375
• Korea, Rep. — 16th of 85: 233,046
• Peru — 17th of 85: 224,754
• Morocco — 19th of 85: 183,432
• Ghana — 20th of 85: 174,414
• Guatemala — 21st of 85: 122,548

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 49 values

Secondary education, teachers in nearby economies

• Brunei Darussalam — 5,040 (2023)
• Cambodia — 107,312 (2021)
• China — 7.41 million (2024)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 31,678 (2024)
• Indonesia — 1.35 million (2025)
• Japan — 627,777 (2023)
• Kiribati — 969 (2024)
• Korea, Rep. — 233,046 (2024)
• Lao PDR — 35,584 (2022)
• Macao SAR, China — 2,938 (2024)
• Mongolia — 25,798 (2024)

More education data for Malaysia

• 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)
• Secondary education, pupils — 2.64 million (2024)
• School enrollment, secondary (% gross) — 80.28% (2024)
• School enrollment, secondary, female (% gross) — 81.54% (2024)
• School enrollment, secondary, male (% gross) — 79.11% (2024)
• Primary education, pupils — 3.06 million (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 90.36% (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 Malaysia's secondary education, teachers?

217,105 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 813.13% from 23,776 in 1970 (4.18% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 239,115 in 2023 and the lowest 23,776 in 1970.

How does Malaysia rank?

18th highest of 85 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Malaysia's secondary education, teachers fell 9.2% on 2023 (from 239,115 to 217,105). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1989 to 2023), the average change was +4% and a typical year strayed about 3.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 3.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

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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