diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 28ffef7298..220d2eeb20 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
 v0.16.0 (xx dec 2018)
 ----------------------
 ### Added
+- Add getVariableCount method in TemplateProcessor. @nicoder #1272
 - Add setting Chart Title and Legend visibility @Tom-Magill #1433
 - Add ability to pass a Style object in Section constructor @ndench #1416
 - Add support for hidden text @Alexmg86 #1527
diff --git a/src/PhpWord/TemplateProcessor.php b/src/PhpWord/TemplateProcessor.php
index 86d0c07de3..7996b7f8f1 100644
--- a/src/PhpWord/TemplateProcessor.php
+++ b/src/PhpWord/TemplateProcessor.php
@@ -234,23 +234,39 @@ public function setValue($search, $replace, $limit = self::MAXIMUM_REPLACEMENTS_
     }
 
     /**
-     * Returns array of all variables in template.
+     * Returns count of all variables in template.
      *
-     * @return string[]
+     * @return array
      */
-    public function getVariables()
+    public function getVariableCount()
     {
         $variables = $this->getVariablesForPart($this->tempDocumentMainPart);
 
         foreach ($this->tempDocumentHeaders as $headerXML) {
-            $variables = array_merge($variables, $this->getVariablesForPart($headerXML));
+            $variables = array_merge(
+                $variables,
+                $this->getVariablesForPart($headerXML)
+            );
         }
 
         foreach ($this->tempDocumentFooters as $footerXML) {
-            $variables = array_merge($variables, $this->getVariablesForPart($footerXML));
+            $variables = array_merge(
+                $variables,
+                $this->getVariablesForPart($footerXML)
+            );
         }
 
-        return array_unique($variables);
+        return array_count_values($variables);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns array of all variables in template.
+     *
+     * @return string[]
+     */
+    public function getVariables()
+    {
+        return array_keys($this->getVariableCount());
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/tests/PhpWord/TemplateProcessorTest.php b/tests/PhpWord/TemplateProcessorTest.php
index 8839200d35..70cf2b74e2 100644
--- a/tests/PhpWord/TemplateProcessorTest.php
+++ b/tests/PhpWord/TemplateProcessorTest.php
@@ -224,6 +224,44 @@ public function testCloneDeleteBlock()
         $this->assertTrue($docFound);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @covers ::getVariableCount
+     * @test
+     */
+    public function getVariableCountCountsHowManyTimesEachPlaceholderIsPresent()
+    {
+        // create template with placeholders
+        $phpWord = new PhpWord();
+        $section = $phpWord->addSection();
+        $header = $section->addHeader();
+        $header->addText('${a_field_that_is_present_three_times}');
+        $footer = $section->addFooter();
+        $footer->addText('${a_field_that_is_present_twice}');
+        $section2 = $phpWord->addSection();
+        $section2->addText('
+                ${a_field_that_is_present_one_time}
+                  ${a_field_that_is_present_three_times}
+              ${a_field_that_is_present_twice}
+                   ${a_field_that_is_present_three_times}
+        ');
+        $objWriter = IOFactory::createWriter($phpWord);
+        $templatePath = 'test.docx';
+        $objWriter->save($templatePath);
+
+        $templateProcessor = new TemplateProcessor($templatePath);
+        $variableCount = $templateProcessor->getVariableCount();
+        unlink($templatePath);
+
+        $this->assertEquals(
+            array(
+                'a_field_that_is_present_three_times' => 3,
+                'a_field_that_is_present_twice'       => 2,
+                'a_field_that_is_present_one_time'    => 1,
+            ),
+            $variableCount
+        );
+    }
+
     /**
      * @covers ::cloneBlock
      * @test
@@ -242,6 +280,7 @@ public function cloneBlockCanCloneABlockTwice()
         foreach ($documentElements as $documentElement) {
             $section->addText($documentElement);
         }
+
         $objWriter = IOFactory::createWriter($phpWord);
         $templatePath = 'test.docx';
         $objWriter->save($templatePath);