Singapore: Trained teachers in secondary education (% of total teachers)

Key figures

Over five years it is down 0.05 percentage points from 98.3% in 2018. Since 2007 it is down 1.24 percentage points from 99.49% in 2007. 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 2023, Singapore's trained teachers in secondary education (% of total teachers) rose 0.18 percentage points on 2022 (from 98.06% to 98.24%).

Across the 8 yearly changes before that (2008 to 2022), the average change was −0.14 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.37 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations above 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 0.31 percentage points in 2020 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.7 percentage points in 2018. 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 downward, about 0.12 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 50% 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 6th highest value of the 12 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

• Spain — 2nd of 12: 100%
• United States — 3rd of 12: 100%
• West Bank and Gaza — 4th of 12: 100%
• Lesotho — 6th of 12: 97.57%
• Brunei Darussalam — 7th of 12: 90.91%
• St. Lucia — 8th of 12: 68.3%

What this measures

Trained teachers in secondary education are the percentage of secondary school teachers who have received the minimum organized teacher training (pre-service or in-service) required for teaching in a given country.

Limitations: This indicator does not take into account differences in teachers' experiences and status, teaching methods, teaching materials, and classroom conditions - all factors that affect the quality of teaching and learning. Some teachers without formal training may have acquired equivalent pedagogical skills through professional experience. In addition, national standards regarding teacher qualifications and pedagogical skills may vary.

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

All 11 values

Trained teachers in secondary education (% of total teachers) in nearby economies

• Brunei Darussalam — 90.91% (2023)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 89.08% (2024)
• Korea, Rep. — 100% (2024)
• Lao PDR — 93.67% (2022)
• Macao SAR, China — 94.66% (2024)
• Malaysia — 91.35% (2024)
• Mongolia — 39.25% (2024)
• Myanmar — 88.99% (2018)
• Philippines

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)
• Primary education, teachers — 16,639 (2023)
• Secondary education, pupils — 163,746 (2023)
• Primary education, teachers (% female) — 80.55% (2023)

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 trained teachers in secondary education (% of total teachers)?

98.24% in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2007?

It is down 1.24 percentage points from 99.49% in 2007. The highest value was 99.49% in 2007 and the lowest 97.87% in 2019.

How does Singapore rank?

6th highest of 12 economies with data for 2023.

Is the latest change in trained teachers in secondary education (% of total teachers) unusual for Singapore?

In 2023, Singapore's trained teachers in secondary education (% of total teachers) rose 0.18 percentage points on 2022 (from 98.06% to 98.24%). Across the 8 yearly changes before that (2008 to 2022), the average change was −0.14 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.37 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations above 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.TCAQ.ZS, 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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