Sierra Leone: Primary education, teachers

Key figures

Over five years it is down 2.44% from 47,738 in 2019 (0.49% a year on average, compounded). Since 1971 it is up 805.78% from 5,142 in 1971 (4.25% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 23 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, Sierra Leone's primary education, teachers rose 1.2% on 2023 (from 46,007 to 46,575).

Across the 23 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2023), the average change was +1.8% and a typical year strayed about 9.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations below 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 32% in 2018 and the biggest yearly fall was 14% in 1990. 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 897.39 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

In 2024, Sierra Leone had the 46th 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 Sierra Leone in the 2024 ranking

• Chad — 43rd of 108: 54,801
• Norway — 44th of 108: 51,889
• Honduras — 45th of 108: 49,996
• Cambodia — 47th of 108: 46,016
• Costa Rica — 48th of 108: 43,058
• Denmark — 49th of 108: 42,105

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 31 values

Primary education, teachers in nearby economies

• Angola — 96,016 (2023)
• Benin — 59,742 (2022)
• Botswana — 16,622 (2022)
• Burkina Faso — 91,764 (2024)
• Burundi — 43,226 (2025)
• Cabo Verde — 3,031 (2022)
• Cameroon — 121,453 (2024)
• Central African Republic — 9,756 (2016)
• Chad — 54,801 (2024)
• Comoros — 3,952 (2024)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 561,172 (2023)
• Congo, Rep.

More education data for Sierra Leone

• 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) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 2.07 million (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 162.12% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 166.35% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 157.95% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.04 (2021)
• Secondary education, pupils

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 Sierra Leone's primary education, teachers?

46,575 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 805.78% from 5,142 in 1971 (4.25% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 49,768 in 2018 and the lowest 5,142 in 1971.

How does Sierra Leone rank?

46th highest of 108 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Sierra Leone's primary education, teachers rose 1.2% on 2023 (from 46,007 to 46,575). Across the 23 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2023), the average change was +1.8% and a typical year strayed about 9.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations below 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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