Malaysia: Secondary education, teachers, female

Key figures

Over five years it is down 0.88% from 153,595 in 2019 (0.18% a year on average, compounded). Since 1970 it is up 1,547% from 9,246 in 1970 (5.32% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 12 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, female fell 5.6% on 2023 (from 161,285 to 152,236).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1984 to 2023), the average change was +4.6% and a typical year strayed about 3.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 12.9% in 1987 and the biggest yearly fall was 5.6% 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 the straight-line trend is upward, about 1,396 a year. A straight line explains 52% 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, Malaysia had the 13th highest value of the 83 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

• Spain — 10th of 83: 204,966
• Kazakhstan — 11th of 83: 187,261
• Bangladesh — 12th of 83: 163,967
• Korea, Rep. — 14th of 83: 151,467
• Saudi Arabia — 15th of 83: 119,823
• Peru — 16th of 83: 103,599

What this measures

Secondary education, teachers, female, refers to the total number of female teachers at secondary level, including full-time and part-time teachers.

Limitations: The indicator measures the level of gender representation in the teaching profession, rather than the effectiveness and quality of teaching.

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

All 43 values

Secondary education, teachers, female in nearby economies

• Brunei Darussalam — 3,512 (2023)
• China — 4.47 million (2024)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 17,472 (2024)
• Indonesia — 841,094 (2025)
• Kiribati — 609 (2024)
• Korea, Rep. — 151,467 (2024)
• Lao PDR — 18,434 (2022)
• Macao SAR, China — 1,687 (2024)
• Mongolia — 19,568 (2024)
• Myanmar — 132,399 (2018)
• Naoero

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)
• Secondary education, teachers — 217,105 (2024)
• Primary education, pupils — 3.06 million (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, female?

152,236 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 1,547% from 9,246 in 1970 (5.32% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 161,285 in 2023 and the lowest 9,246 in 1970.

How does Malaysia rank?

13th highest of 83 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Malaysia's secondary education, teachers, female fell 5.6% on 2023 (from 161,285 to 152,236). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1984 to 2023), the average change was +4.6% and a typical year strayed about 3.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.9 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.FE, 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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