Sierra Leone: Secondary education, teachers

Key figures

Over five years it is up 27.97% from 29,729 in 2019 (5.06% a year on average, compounded). Since 1971 it is up 2,139% from 1,699 in 1971 (6.04% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 27 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 secondary education, teachers fell 0.4% on 2023 (from 38,187 to 38,043).

Across the 18 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2023), the average change was +6.5% and a typical year strayed about 20.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 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 59.4% in 1976 and the biggest yearly fall was 39% in 1986. 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 1,991 a year. A straight line explains 89% 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, Sierra Leone had the 44th 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 Sierra Leone in the 2024 ranking

• Oman — 41st of 85: 43,982
• Bulgaria — 42nd of 85: 43,834
• Finland — 43rd of 85: 42,938
• Slovak Republic — 45th of 85: 37,693
• Costa Rica — 46th of 85: 37,015
• New Zealand — 47th of 85: 36,426

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 27 values

Secondary education, teachers in nearby economies

• Angola — 91,250 (2023)
• Benin — 57,296 (2022)
• Botswana — 15,284 (2021)
• Burkina Faso — 68,557 (2024)
• Burundi — 27,748 (2025)
• Cabo Verde — 3,534 (2022)
• Cameroon — 118,092 (2023)
• Central African Republic — 4,357 (2017)
• Chad — 23,874 (2024)
• Comoros — 7,728 (2022)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 621,578 (2023)

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)
• Primary education, teachers — 46,575 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI)

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 Sierra Leone's secondary education, teachers?

38,043 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 2,139% from 1,699 in 1971 (6.04% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 38,187 in 2023 and the lowest 1,629 in 1975.

How does Sierra Leone rank?

44th highest of 85 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Sierra Leone's secondary education, teachers fell 0.4% on 2023 (from 38,187 to 38,043). Across the 18 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2023), the average change was +6.5% and a typical year strayed about 20.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 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.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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