| Code | SE.SEC.TCHR |
| Indicator Name | Secondary education, teachers |
| Short definition | Secondary education, teachers refers to the total number of teachers at secondary level, including full-time and part-time teachers. |
| Long definition | Secondary education, teachers refers to the total number of teachers at secondary level, including full-time and part-time teachers. |
| 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. Detailed documentation is available at: https://api.uis.unesco.org/api/public/documentation/, publisher: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), type: Bulk file (csv), date accessed: 2025-09-22, date published: 2025-09 |
| Topic | Education: Inputs |
| Dataset | WDI |
| Unit of measure | Number |
| Periodicity | Annual |
| Reference period | 1970-2023 |
| Aggregation method | Sum |
| Statistical concept and methodology | Methodology: Teachers refer to persons employed full-time or part-time in an official capacity to guide and direct the learning experience of pupils and students, irrespective of their qualifications or the delivery mechanism, i.e. face-to-face and/or at a distance. This definition excludes educational personnel who have no active teaching duties (e.g. headmasters, headmistresses or principals who do not teach) or who work occasionally or in a voluntary capacity in educational institutions.
Data on education are collected by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics from official responses to its annual education survey. All the data are mapped to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) to ensure the comparability of education programs at the international level. The current version was formally adopted by UNESCO Member States in 2011.
The reference years reflect the school year for which the data are presented. In some countries the school year spans two calendar years (for example, from September 2010 to June 2011); in these cases the reference year refers to the year in which the school year ended (2011 in the example).
Statistical concept(s): The metric of personnel count primarily engaged in teaching and/or research reflects the scale, diversity, and distribution of educational staff within a nation's academic institutions. An increased count is anticipated to enrich the educational setting by means of dedicated teaching, practical research, academic pursuits, and contributions to the service of national educational policies. |
| Development relevance | Teachers are pivotal in molding the future and unleashing the potential of each student. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) highlights a global teacher shortage as a significant obstacle in realizing Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims for inclusive and equitable quality education. |
| Limitations and exceptions | The precision of this indicator can be influenced by the enumeration method used, such as headcount or 'full-time equivalent' count of teachers. |
| License URL | https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/public-licenses#cc-by |
| License Type | CC BY-4.0 |
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