UIS · Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary
Pupils per qualified teacher (primary) by country
How many primary pupils are there for each qualified teacher?
Of the 92 countries compared in 2024, Puerto Rico had the lowest reading, 8.24, and Bolivia had the highest reading, 284.70. In the middle country the figure was 20.67.
Share
Part ofEducation & Knowledge
Pupils per qualified teacher (primary) · 2024
Context statistic
Lowest of 92Puerto Rico
8.24012024 · position · derived
Who leads
The three countries at the lowest end of 92 compared, the three at the other end, and the first on each continent.
1Photo: derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
2Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Highest in 2024
Bolivia284.70
Madagascar175.19
Belize158.71
Where a country sits says how it compares with the others measured, and nothing about why.
Lowest on each continent
- Africa
Mauritius13.76 - AmericasPuerto Rico8.24
- Asia
Oman10.31 - Europe
San Marino8.62 - Oceania
Palau11.78 - Every region
02Every measured country
Pupils per qualified teacher (primary) on a map
Each country is shaded by its value, in five groups holding the same number of countries. Hover a country for its value, or select it to open its profile. Below the map, each continent’s middle country.
Darker is a lower value — the better end.
- 39.87–284.70
- 24.26–37.74
- 18.10–24.15
- 13.77–17.94
- 8.24–13.76
- No reading in 2024 (61 measured in an earlier edition)
- Europe
15.16
the middle country, of 8 measured · 49 members
San Marino8.62
Ukraine136.00Lowest and highest reading in Europe.
- Asia
16.31
the middle country, of 29 measured · 52 members
Oman10.31
Cambodia49.24Lowest and highest reading in Asia.
- Americas
17.94
the middle country, of 19 measured · 48 members
Puerto Rico8.24Bolivia284.70Lowest and highest reading in Americas.
- Oceania
19.87
the middle country, of 12 measured · 21 members
Palau11.78
Vanuatu37.74Lowest and highest reading in Oceania.
- Africa
41.49
the middle country, of 24 measured · 55 members
Mauritius13.76Madagascar175.19Lowest and highest reading in Africa.
- Every region
19 sub-regions, lowest middle country first
- Eastern Asia
14.48
the middle country, of 5 measured · 8 members
Hong Kong11.66
Mongolia35.44Lowest and highest reading in Eastern Asia.
- Western Asia
15.18
the middle country, of 10 measured · 19 members
Oman10.31
Lebanon31.43Lowest and highest reading in Western Asia.
- Caribbean
15.36
the middle country, of 13 measured · 24 members
Puerto Rico8.24
Grenada28.63Lowest and highest reading in Caribbean.
- South-eastern Asia
17.41
the middle country, of 6 measured · 11 members
Malaysia12.00Cambodia49.24Lowest and highest reading in South-eastern Asia.
- Micronesia
19.11
the middle country, of 5 measured · 7 members
Palau11.78
Nauru36.06Lowest and highest reading in Micronesia.
- Polynesia
19.88
the middle country, of 5 measured · 7 members
Niue15.00
Cook Islands34.93Lowest and highest reading in Polynesia.
- Southern Asia
23.59
the middle country, of 5 measured · 9 members
Maldives12.18
India28.83Lowest and highest reading in Southern Asia.
- Western Africa
43.12
the middle country, of 9 measured · 16 members
Senegal32.72
Togo84.45Lowest and highest reading in Western Africa.
- Eastern Africa
44.08
the middle country, of 9 measured · 19 members
Mauritius13.76Madagascar175.19Lowest and highest reading in Eastern Africa.
- Central America
2 of 8 measured — too few for a middle: Belize, El Salvador.
El Salvador26.95Belize158.71Lowest and highest reading in Central America.
- Central Asia
3 of 5 measured — too few for a middle: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan13.77
Turkmenistan25.27Lowest and highest reading in Central Asia.
- Eastern Europe
3 of 10 measured — too few for a middle: Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine.
Moldova18.60Ukraine136.00Lowest and highest reading in Eastern Europe.
- Melanesia
2 of 5 measured — too few for a middle: Fiji, Vanuatu.
Fiji18.10Vanuatu37.74Lowest and highest reading in Melanesia.
- Middle Africa
2 of 9 measured — too few for a middle: Cameroon, Chad.
Cameroon63.48
Chad87.54Lowest and highest reading in Middle Africa.
- Northern Africa
3 of 6 measured — too few for a middle: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco.
Algeria24.12
Egypt31.88Lowest and highest reading in Northern Africa.
- South America
4 of 12 measured — too few for a middle: Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Venezuela.
Ecuador23.25Bolivia284.70Lowest and highest reading in South America.
- Southern Africa
1 of 5 measured — too few for a middle: Namibia.
Namibia29.12Lowest and highest reading in Southern Africa.
- Southern Europe
4 of 17 measured — too few for a middle: Albania, Andorra, San Marino, Serbia.
San Marino8.62
Serbia15.22Lowest and highest reading in Southern Europe.
- Western Europe
1 of 9 measured — too few for a middle: Monaco.
Monaco12.24Lowest and highest reading in Western Europe.
03The whole field at once
The spread
92 countries, one dot each, on one scale — further right is a higher value. Half the countries are above 20.67; a quarter are above 35.50, and a quarter below 14.72. The bar in each row marks that continent’s middle country.
04All 153 ever measured
Every country
In order, highest value first — position 1 is the highest value, the way UIS’s own tables read. “=” marks a position shared with another country. UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) ranks nobody on this measure; the position is derived here by ordering the published values. A high figure has two causes the number cannot separate — large classes, and teachers without the required qualification — so read it beside the share of qualified primary teachers, and remember each country sets its own minimum qualification. A few of the highest readings do not square with that share for the same year and should be treated with care.
Showing 25 of 153 countries
Values for 2024. The change column compares 2024 with 2023 only; the sparkline covers the recent editions.
052013–2024 · 12 editions
Over time
Each point is one school year as UNESCO reports it. The series starts in 2013, the first year enough countries reported.
- the middle country
- the middle half of countries
- each continent’s middle country
The same, year by year
| Year | Countries | Middle country | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 92 | 20.67 | 14.72 – 35.50 |
| 2023 | 104 | 21.25 | 15.12 – 34.99 |
| 2022 | 100 | 22.71 | 15.76 – 32.85 |
| 2021 | 98 | 20.21 | 14.33 – 31.26 |
| 2020 | 91 | 19.78 | 13.22 – 31.17 |
| 2019 | 94 | 21.24 | 14.27 – 33.31 |
| 2018 | 90 | 21.95 | 15.12 – 34.32 |
| 2017 | 86 | 22.97 | 14.35 – 36.39 |
| 2016 | 91 | 23.10 | 14.38 – 39.13 |
| 2015 | 89 | 24.29 | 15.24 – 40.00 |
| 2014 | 81 | 23.08 | 14.54 – 36.06 |
| 2013 | 63 | 25.86 | 13.85 – 43.30 |
062023 → 2024
Who rose and fell
The biggest changes in value between the two newest editions. Places are shown second, because they also move when other countries do.
Improved most
before → after- Algeria193.40 → 24.12 · 2nd → 40th−169.28
- Cameroon156.63 → 63.48 · 3rd → 10th−93.15
British Virgin Islands58.12 → 10.29 · 11th → 88th−47.83
Venezuela106.78 → 85.85 · 5th → 7th−20.94
Bangladesh42.27 → 23.59 · 21st → 41st−18.67
79 countries were measured in both 2023 and 2024. The field changed from 104 to 92 countries, so a place can move for reasons that have nothing to do with the country itself.
07Across every edition
Pupils per qualified teacher (primary) in records
The extremes of the statistic. A record reached by more than one country names none of them.
Highest reading on record
284.70
Primary pupils per qualified teacher (headcount basis)
Lowest reading on record
6.72
Primary pupils per qualified teacher (headcount basis)
Biggest improvement between editions
−169.28
193.40 → 24.12
Biggest decline between editions
+163.69
29.71 → 193.40
Most improved since first measured
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines−81.24
96.60 → 15.36
At the top most often
3 countries share this record — no holder is named
2 of 12
editions
08The measure
About pupils per qualified teacher (primary)
This is the number of primary-school pupils for each teacher who holds the minimum qualification their country requires. It is not the ordinary pupil–teacher ratio, which UNESCO no longer publishes: teachers without that qualification are left out of the count, so the figure rises with crowded classes, with a shortage of qualified teachers, or with both.
What the number is: Primary pupils per qualified teacher (headcount basis).
09Where it fits
Connections
Its part in the Country Index, the statistics whose values line up most closely with it across countries, and others on the same subject.
In the Country Index
Context, with no vote
This statistic is published in full under Education & Knowledge, but does not help decide any Country Index standing.
Moves with
Where pupils per qualified teacher (primary) is higher, these tend to be higher too.
- Population Under Age 15UN DESA Population Division · 92 countries in commonρ 0.74
- Crude Birth RateUN DESA Population Division · 92 countries in commonρ 0.72
- Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 92 countries in commonρ 0.70
Moves against
Where pupils per qualified teacher (primary) is higher, these tend to be lower.
- Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 84 countries in commonρ −0.78
- Human Development IndexKeyUNDP Human Development Report Office · 84 countries in commonρ −0.77
- Median Age of the PopulationUN DESA Population Division · 92 countries in commonρ −0.73
Rank correlation (ρ, from −1 to 1) across countries, on each statistic’s newest edition, out of 106 statistics sharing at least 80 countries with this one. Two statistics that move together do not cause each other.
10Keep reading
Explore further
The subject
The countries at either end
11Questions
Pupils per qualified teacher (primary): questions and answers
Which country has the lowest pupils per qualified teacher (primary)?
Puerto Rico, at 8.24, among the 92 countries compared in 2024.
Which country has the highest pupils per qualified teacher (primary)?
Bolivia, at 284.70, among the 92 countries compared in 2024.
How many countries does the Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary cover?
92 in 2024, and 153 at least once across all editions. The number measured varies from 63 to 104 between editions.
What is the world average pupils per qualified teacher (primary)?
This site does not calculate a world average, which would depend on how countries are weighted. In the middle country of the 92 compared in 2024, the figure was 20.67.
Is this UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)’s own ranking?
No. UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) publishes the values but ranks nobody; the position on this page is derived by Nations Inquiry by ordering the published values, and equal values share a position.
How often is the Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary published?
This site holds 12 editions, describing 2013 to 2024.
Where does the data come from, and can I download it?
From UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), under CC BY-SA 4.0. From the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (PTRHC.1.QUALIFIED). The World Bank’s older pupil–teacher ratio series stopped in 2018, when UNESCO stopped publishing the plain ratio. Editions reporting fewer than 50 countries are not written. Every edition is on this site’s Datasets pages as a full table, and downloads as a CSV file with every value unrounded.
12Method
Sources, method and citation
Source
Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
From the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (PTRHC.1.QUALIFIED). The World Bank’s older pupil–teacher ratio series stopped in 2018, when UNESCO stopped publishing the plain ratio. Editions reporting fewer than 50 countries are not written.
Newest edition
Report year 2024Data year 2024
Cite the source as: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. UIS Data Browser. Montreal: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0, checked 2026-09-29.
How this page reads the numbers
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) ranks nobody on this measure. The position is derived by Nations Inquiry by ordering the published values; equal values share a position.
- Which end is better follows the publisher’s own reading of the measure.
- A country is named at an end only when it holds that value alone. Where several share it, the page says how many and names none first.
- Values are stored exactly as published and trimmed only for display. “The middle country” is the median of the countries measured, not a world average.
The file itself, column by column — where it came from, what each column holds, and every edition as a CSV — is on its dataset page.
Photographs
The countries at the top of this statistic, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Puerto Rico — derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 2.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Pupils per qualified teacher (primary) by country: Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, data from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). https://nationsinquiry.com/statistics/pupils-per-qualified-teacher-primary