How many professors are in the world?

There's no definitive answer to how many professors are in the world. Reliable, globally comprehensive data on this topic simply doesn't exist. The number would vary greatly depending on:

* Definition of "professor": Different countries have different academic ranks and titles. What constitutes a "professor" in one country might be a "lecturer" or "associate professor" in another.

* Types of institutions: The count would differ depending on whether it includes only university professors, or also those in colleges, community colleges, technical schools, etc.

* Data collection challenges: Accurately collecting data from every university and institution worldwide is a massive undertaking.

While some organizations may attempt estimates, any number you find would be a rough approximation at best.