The world will need an additional 50 million teachers by 2030 to meet global education needs, according to new data released by UNESCO to mark World Teachers’ Day.
The figure comprises 44 million teachers required to achieve universal primary and secondary education, as well as an additional six million needed for pre-primary education.
In a joint message, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Education International stressed the need for greater investment in the teaching profession.
“Every learner deserves a teacher who is well prepared, well supported and empowered to thrive in the profession,” the organisations said.
The statement was issued as Monday marked the 60th anniversary of the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, an international framework that established teachers’ rights and responsibilities.
The recommendation also set standards for teacher preparation and continuing education, recruitment, employment, as well as teaching and learning conditions.
UNESCO stressed that improving the status of teachers would require stronger professional recognition and better working conditions, including adequate salaries.
New data cited by the organisation showed that pre-primary and primary school teachers earn slightly less than other professionals with similar qualifications.
The teaching profession is also facing challenges in terms of recognition. According to the 2024 OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey, fewer than 40 per cent of teachers felt that their profession was valued in 75 per cent of the participating countries.
UNESCO reaffirmed that teachers remain essential to achieving the fundamental human right to education, warning that shortages could further widen existing gaps in access to quality schooling.
The organisation said the projected teacher shortage must be addressed through stronger recruitment, retention and support measures to ensure that education systems can meet growing demand.
The warning comes amid a persistent global education crisis. A UNESCO report released in March 2026 estimated that as many as 273 million children worldwide were out of school, with the number increasing for the seventh consecutive year.
The organisations called for greater recognition and support for teachers, alongside policies that make the profession more attractive and sustainable, to ensure that every child has access to quality education.
