Singapore: Primary education, teachers

Key figures

Over five years it is up 2.12% from 16,294 in 2018 (0.42% a year on average, compounded). Since 1970 it is up 35.73% from 12,259 in 1970 (0.58% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 16 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2023, Singapore's primary education, teachers fell 0.9% on 2022 (from 16,793 to 16,639).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1975 to 2022), the average change was +0.6% and a typical year strayed about 3.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 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 8.9% in 2009 and the biggest yearly fall was 9.8% in 1980. 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 2023 the straight-line trend is upward, about 149.14 a year. A straight line explains 76% of the movement over 8 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 2023, Singapore had the 26th highest value of the 40 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 Singapore in the 2023 ranking

• West Bank and Gaza — 23rd of 40: 25,038
• Congo, Rep. — 24th of 40: 23,019
• Uruguay — 25th of 40: 18,882
• Croatia — 27th of 40: 13,441
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 28th of 40: 9,722
• Eswatini — 29th of 40: 8,880

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 38 values

Primary education, teachers in nearby economies

• Brunei Darussalam — 3,846 (2024)
• Cambodia — 46,016 (2024)
• China — 6.74 million (2024)
• Fiji — 6,295 (2024)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 28,284 (2024)
• Indonesia — 1.51 million (2025)
• Japan — 440,864 (2023)
• Kiribati — 734 (2024)
• Korea, Rep. — 173,133 (2024)
• Lao PDR — 21,845 (2025)
• Macao SAR, China — 2,896 (2024)

More education data for Singapore

• 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) — 4 (2025)
• Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) — 2.19% (2024)
• Preprimary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 238,816 (2023)
• Secondary education, pupils — 163,746 (2023)
• Primary education, teachers (% female) — 80.55% (2023)
• Pupil-teacher ratio, primary — 14.69 (2017)

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 Singapore's primary education, teachers?

16,639 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 35.73% from 12,259 in 1970 (0.58% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 16,925 in 2021 and the lowest 9,463 in 1980.

How does Singapore rank?

26th highest of 40 economies with data for 2023.

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

In 2023, Singapore's primary education, teachers fell 0.9% on 2022 (from 16,793 to 16,639). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1975 to 2022), the average change was +0.6% and a typical year strayed about 3.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 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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