United Kingdom: Primary education, teachers

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2023, United Kingdom's primary education, teachers fell 0.4% on 2022 (from 282,367 to 281,128).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1980 to 2022), the average change was +0.1% and a typical year strayed about 3.7% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 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 8.7% in 2014 and the biggest yearly fall was 12.4% 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 2014 to 2023 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 8% of the movement over 9 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2023, United Kingdom had the 11th 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 United Kingdom in the 2023 ranking

• Türkiye — 7th of 40: 299,967
• South Africa — 8th of 40: 287,310
• Kenya — 9th of 40: 281,500
• Afghanistan — 11th of 40: 163,167
• Angola — 12th of 40: 96,016
• Tunisia — 13th of 40: 84,596

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 44 values

Primary education, teachers in nearby economies

• Albania — 9,336 (2024)
• Andorra — 413 (2024)
• Armenia — 7,540 (2024)
• Austria — 35,752 (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 38,731 (2024)
• Belarus — 22,228 (2024)
• Belgium — 80,763 (2023)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 9,722 (2023)
• Bulgaria — 22,710 (2024)
• Croatia — 13,441 (2023)
• Cyprus — 5,389 (2023)
• Denmark

More education data for United Kingdom

• Primary school starting age (years) — 5 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 11 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 7 (2025)
• Secondary education, pupils — 6.4 million (2023)
• School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.02 (2020)
• Primary education, pupils — 4.86 million (2023)
• Secondary education, general pupils — 4.17 million (2017)
• Secondary education, general pupils (% female) — 49.21% (2017)
• Secondary education, pupils (% female)

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 United Kingdom's primary education, teachers?

281,128 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is up 12.94% from 248,908 in 1971 (0.23% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 318,533 in 2017 and the lowest 213,000 in 1987.

How does United Kingdom rank?

11th highest of 40 economies with data for 2023.

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

In 2023, United Kingdom's primary education, teachers fell 0.4% on 2022 (from 282,367 to 281,128). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1980 to 2022), the average change was +0.1% and a typical year strayed about 3.7% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 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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