United States: Secondary education, teachers

Key figures

Over five years it is up 0.98% from 1.73 million in 2018 (0.19% a year on average, compounded). Since 1972 it is up 73.72% from 1 million in 1972 (1.09% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 36 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2023, United States' secondary education, teachers rose 0.3% on 2022 (from 1.74 million to 1.74 million).

Across the 11 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2022), the average change was +1% and a typical year strayed about 1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.7 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 2.1% in 1995 and the biggest yearly fall was 1.2% in 2019. 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 the straight-line trend is upward, about 10,728 a year. A straight line explains 87% 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 2023, United States had the 2nd highest value of the 39 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 States in the 2023 ranking

• Mexico — 2nd of 39: 868,550
• Türkiye — 3rd of 39: 788,294
• Japan — 4th of 39: 627,777

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 16 values

Secondary education, teachers in nearby economies

• Bermuda — 672 (2016)

More education data for United States

• 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) — 6 (2025)
• School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) — 79.36% (2022)
• School enrollment, tertiary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.32 (2022)
• School enrollment, tertiary, female (% gross) — 94.85% (2022)
• School enrollment, tertiary, male (% gross) — 64.54% (2022)
• Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)

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 States's secondary education, teachers?

1.74 million in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1972?

It is up 73.72% from 1 million in 1972 (1.09% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1.74 million in 2023 and the lowest 1 million in 1972.

How does United States rank?

2nd highest of 39 economies with data for 2023.

Is the latest change in secondary education, teachers unusual for United States?

In 2023, United States' secondary education, teachers rose 0.3% on 2022 (from 1.74 million to 1.74 million). Across the 11 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2022), the average change was +1% and a typical year strayed about 1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.7 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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