UNESCO: World needs 50 million more teachers by 2030

The world currently has 107 million teachers but will need an additional 50 million by 2030 to secure universal access to pre-primary, primary and secondary education, according to new data released by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on World Teachers’ Day 2026. That equates to one extra teacher for every two currently working. The fact sheet was issued jointly by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030. It examines how teachers are valued, supported and paid, 60 years after the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. The findings highlight an urgent need to strengthen the teaching profession worldwide.

The fact sheet was released to mark World Teachers’ Day 2026, which brought ministers, teachers and education experts together at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The event was co-convened by UNESCO, the International Labour Organization, UNICEF and Education International. It took place under the theme “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures”. Discussions centered on how to reinforce the profession six decades after the landmark 1966 Recommendation. The anniversary provides a reference point for assessing progress and persistent gaps.

How teachers are perceived by society directly affects their decision to remain in the classroom. In 75% of the countries participating in the OECD’s TALIS 2024 survey, fewer than 40% of teachers felt that their profession was valued. Those who did feel valued were over 10% less likely to consider leaving within five years. The data show that 58% of the teachers the world needs by 2030 will be hired not to expand the workforce but to replace those who leave. Attrition rates stand at 7.2% in pre-primary education, 5.4% in secondary and 4.7% in primary.

The new figures also show that pre-primary and primary teachers earn slightly less than other professionals with similar qualifications. In two out of five of the 68 countries analyzed, teacher salaries remain below those of similarly qualified professionals across all education levels. Teachers spend an average of 19 hours in the classroom per week but work around 60 hours in total, much of it on unpaid preparation, marking and administrative tasks. In primary schools, the global pupil-trained teacher ratio stands at 28 to 1, the highest of any level.

A joint message by UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF and Education International stated: “Every learner deserves a teacher who is well prepared, well supported and empowered to thrive in the profession.”

The fact sheet recommends giving teachers a seat at the table when policy is made, setting professional standards and career paths, offering competitive salaries and targeted incentives for hard-to-staff schools, making schools safer, and cutting back unnecessary workload. UNESCO works with countries to increase the supply of qualified, motivated teachers, with a special focus on Africa, inclusion, gender sensitivity and digital technologies. UNESCO and the ILO have also launched a joint revision of the 1966 Recommendation, guided by an Independent Expert Group through mid-2027. The organizations emphasize that attractive, respected and supported teaching professions form the foundation of quality education. The evidence points to a clear path forward for governments and partners.