There are about 15,000 international schools in the world. ISC Research, the main company that tracks English-medium international K-12 schools, counted 15,075 in its Global Snapshot 2026, teaching 7.7 million students with 730,000 staff and US$69.3 billion a year in fee income. Its website now shows a higher, undated figure of 15,464 schools, 8 million students, 756,000 teaching staff and US$78 billion in fees. China has the most international schools, followed by India, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Indonesia.
This page collects the most useful international schools statistics for teachers: how big the sector is, where the schools are, which curricula they use and who hires on our own board. Every number links to who published it and when. Different organisations count different things, so read the notes on each figure before you compare them.
Headline international schools statistics
| Measure | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| International schools worldwide | 15,075 | ISC Research Global Snapshot 2026, reported February 2026 (ICEF Monitor) |
| Students | 7.7 million | Same |
| Staff | 730,000 | Same |
| Annual fee income | US$69.3 billion | Same |
| Growth in schools | 2% in a year | Same |
| Latest figures on ISC’s website | 15,464 schools, 8 million students, 756,000 teaching staff, US$78 billion fee income | ISC Research, checked October 2026, no date given |
ISC Research counts English-medium international K-12 schools using its own definition. Its numbers change through the year as it adds schools, which is why the website figure is higher than the February report. Neither figure is an official government statistic, because no government counts international schools worldwide.
Which country has the most international schools?
In September 2025, Tes reported ISC Research’s country counts (Tes):
| Rank | Country | International schools |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 1,117 |
| 2 | India | 991 |
| 3 | United Arab Emirates | 898 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 701 |
| 5 | Indonesia | 465 |
Together these five have about a quarter of all international schools. ISC’s 2026 snapshot says growth in China is flattening, while the UAE grew 7% and India 2% in a year, and names the UAE, Indonesia and Kazakhstan as fast-growing markets (ICEF Monitor).
The same Tes article gave smaller markets too: Colombia 127, Kenya 117, Romania 67 and Kazakhstan 42. It also said about 40% of international schools belong to a school group, such as the large groups whose jobs appear on this board.
International schools by region
ISC’s 2026 snapshot gave this regional split of schools (ICEF Monitor):
| Region | Share of international schools |
|---|---|
| Asia | 58% |
| Americas | 15% |
| Europe | 14% |
| Africa | 12% |
| Oceania | 2% |
The same report says more than a third of schools offer bilingual education, and ICEF Monitor describes the growth as driven more by local families than by expatriates.
Country snapshots from official and local sources
National counts use their own definitions, so they do not match ISC’s numbers exactly.
| Place | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | 406,563 students in private schools at the start of 2026-27, up 4.6% from about 388,731 in June 2026; 7 new schools and 17 early childhood centres opened | KHDA figures reported by Gulf News, October 2026 |
| Thailand | 249 international schools with more than 77,700 students in 2024 | US International Trade Administration, citing Thailand’s Private Education Commission (trade.gov) |
| Egypt | 795 schools classed as international in 2020, up from 168 in 2011 | Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies, from the Ministry of Education directory (ECSS) |
Dubai’s figure covers all private schools, many of which follow a British, American, IB or Indian curriculum. Egypt’s figure uses a broad definition that includes local schools teaching an international programme.
Curriculum and network numbers
| Organisation | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| International Baccalaureate | More than 8,900 programmes in more than 6,200 schools in over 160 countries, as of May 2026 | IB facts and figures |
| Cambridge International | More than 10,000 Cambridge schools in 160 countries | Cambridge International |
| COBIS (British international schools) | About 350 member schools in more than 80 countries, with over 200,000 students and more than 17,000 teachers | COBIS |
| Council of International Schools | More than 1,635 schools and universities in 120 countries | CIS |
| UK British Schools Overseas | About 300 accredited schools, most in the UAE (92), Qatar (22) and Spain (18), list updated 5 October 2026 (our count of the list) | GOV.UK |
| US State Department | 193 “assisted” American-style overseas schools | Office of Overseas Schools letter, February 2024 |
IB and Cambridge counts include state and private schools in their home countries, not only international schools, so they are not a subset of ISC’s 15,000. For how these systems compare for teachers, see IB vs IGCSE, A Levels and AP.
What the international school market means for teachers
With 730,000 to 756,000 staff across about 15,000 schools, the sector employs roughly 50 staff per school on average (our division of ISC’s figures, not a published number). Growth of around 2% a year in schools means steady demand for teachers, but it is uneven: the UAE grew 7% in a year while growth in China is flattening.
With more local families choosing international schools, in practice:
- more schools teach bilingually and value teachers with English as an additional language (EAL) experience,
- many schools hire both expatriate and locally hired teachers, with different packages (see international school salary and benefits), and
- a teaching qualification matters more as schools seek accreditation (see PGCE, iPGCE and international teaching qualifications).
Why the international school statistics disagree
You will see very different numbers for the same thing. Four reasons explain most of the gaps:
- Definitions. ISC Research counts English-medium international K-12 schools. Egypt’s Ministry directory counts every school it classes as international, which gives 795 schools in one country. The IB and Cambridge count every school that offers their programmes, including state schools in the UK, the US and elsewhere.
- Dates. ISC’s February 2026 snapshot says 15,075 schools; its website, updated through the year, says 15,464. Both can be right for their date.
- Members versus schools. COBIS and CIS count members, and CIS includes universities. A school can belong to several bodies, so you cannot add these figures together.
- Students versus schools. Dubai’s KHDA reports student numbers for all private schools, which tells you more about demand than a school count does.
When you quote a figure, give the source and the date, as we do in the tables above.
Using the numbers in your job search
- Follow growth. Markets that are adding schools, such as the UAE, need teachers every year. See teaching jobs in Dubai.
- Look at groups. With about 40% of schools in a group, one application to a group careers site can reach many schools. Browse schools hiring on this board.
- Match the curriculum. British and IB schools are the largest systems, so experience in either widens your options.
- Time it. Most schools hire for an August start; see the international school hiring season.
Teacher Jobs World by the numbers
Our own data is smaller but current. Our October 2026 report, generated on 15 October 2026, found:
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Live jobs | 1,363 |
| Schools and groups hiring | 42 |
| New jobs found from 1 to 15 October 2026 | 1,515 |
| Top city | Dubai, 87 jobs (6%) |
| Top role | Secondary teacher, 403 jobs (30%) |
| Curriculum most often named | British curriculum, 302 jobs (22%) |
| Ads mentioning visa sponsorship | 1% (20 jobs) |
| Ads stating a salary | 3% (43 jobs) |
The employers with the most open jobs were International Schools Partnership (333), Kids&Us (298), Inspired Education (123), Egypt Education Platform (109) and Aldar Education (89). These are ads on this board, not the whole market, and new jobs grow as we add schools. You may reuse the report figures with credit under CC BY 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
How many international schools are there in the world?
About 15,000. ISC Research counted 15,075 English-medium international schools in its Global Snapshot 2026, and its website now shows 15,464.
Which country has the most international schools?
China, with 1,117 according to ISC Research figures reported in September 2025, followed by India (991), the UAE (898), Pakistan (701) and Indonesia (465).
How many students attend international schools?
About 7.7 million according to ISC Research’s 2026 snapshot, and about 8 million according to its website in October 2026.
How big is the international school market?
ISC Research put annual fee income at US$69.3 billion in its 2026 snapshot, and its website now shows US$78 billion.
How many IB schools are there?
The IB reported more than 6,200 schools offering more than 8,900 IB programmes in over 160 countries, as of May 2026.