Countries With the Lowest Pupil-teacher Ratios
Every country with a figure for pupil-teacher ratio, ranked from lowest to highest. The top three are San Marino (6.93), Liechtenstein (7.8) and Luxembourg (8.3). The middle country of the 189 has 19.3.
What this measures
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary, in pupils per teacher. Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. For this measure, higher is worse.
The World Bank's copy stops at 2019.
This measure mostly follows how rich a country is, so this ranking is close to a ranking by national income. Each country’s page also ranks it against countries with similar incomes, which is often the fairer comparison.
The full ranking
Each country’s latest figure, from 2010–2019. The year beside each value says when it was measured.
| Rank | Country | Pupil-teacher ratio | Year | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Marino | 6.93 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 2 | Liechtenstein | 7.8 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 3 | Luxembourg | 8.3 | 2016 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 4 | Norway | 8.59 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 5 | Kuwait | 8.88 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 6 | Georgia | 8.98 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 7 | Cuba | 9.16 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 8 | Greece | 9.38 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 9 | Oman | 9.67 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 10 | Brunei Darussalam | 9.9 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 11 | Switzerland | 9.93 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 12 | Austria | 10 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 13 | Iceland | 10.1 | 2015 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 14 | Maldives | 10.2 | 2017 | South Asia |
| 15 | Poland | 10.2 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 16 | Bermuda | 10.4 | 2015 | North America |
| 17 | Andorra | 10.5 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 18 | Denmark | 10.7 | 2014 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 19 | Hungary | 10.8 | 2016 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 20 | Uruguay | 11 | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 21 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 11.3 | 2012 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 22 | Belgium | 11.3 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 23 | Estonia | 11.3 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 24 | Italy | 11.5 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 25 | Latvia | 11.5 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 26 | British Virgin Islands | 11.6 | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 27 | Malaysia | 11.7 | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 28 | Monaco | 11.7 | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 29 | Netherlands | 11.8 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 30 | Bahrain | 11.9 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 31 | Cyprus | 12 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 32 | Israel | 12.1 | 2016 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 33 | Qatar | 12.2 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 34 | Costa Rica | 12.2 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 35 | Sweden | 12.2 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 36 | Germany | 12.3 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 37 | Portugal | 12.4 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 38 | Antigua and Barbuda | 12.4 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 39 | Lebanon | 12.5 | 2017 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 40 | Malta | 12.9 | 2017 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 41 | Ukraine | 13 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 42 | Dominica | 13.1 | 2016 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 43 | Spain | 13.1 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 44 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 13.3 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 45 | Suriname | 13.4 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 46 | Macao SAR, China | 13.5 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 47 | Croatia | 13.5 | 2016 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 48 | Lithuania | 13.5 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 49 | Puerto Rico (US) | 13.5 | 2016 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 50 | Finland | 13.7 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 51 | Slovenia | 13.8 | 2016 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 52 | Saudi Arabia | 13.8 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 53 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 13.9 | 2016 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 54 | Barbados | 14 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 55 | Gibraltar | 14.2 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 56 | United States | 14.2 | 2017 | North America |
| 57 | Serbia | 14.3 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 58 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 14.4 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 59 | Seychelles | 14.5 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 60 | Singapore | 14.7 | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 61 | St. Lucia | 14.7 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 62 | Aruba | 14.8 | 2012 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 63 | North Macedonia | 14.9 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 64 | New Zealand | 14.9 | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 65 | United Kingdom | 15.1 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 66 | Bulgaria | 15.2 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 67 | Armenia | 15.4 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 68 | Azerbaijan | 15.4 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 69 | Slovak Republic | 15.5 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 70 | Tuvalu | 15.6 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 71 | Japan | 15.7 | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 72 | Cayman Islands | 15.7 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 73 | Ireland | 16.1 | 2012 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 74 | Mauritius | 16.2 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 75 | Korea, Rep. | 16.3 | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 76 | Grenada | 16.4 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 77 | China | 16.4 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 78 | Thailand | 16.6 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 79 | Tunisia | 16.9 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 80 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 16.9 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 81 | Turkiye | 17 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 82 | Indonesia | 17 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 83 | Kazakhstan | 17.2 | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 84 | Peru | 17.4 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 85 | Albania | 17.6 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 86 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 17.7 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 87 | Chile | 17.8 | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 88 | Bolivia | 17.8 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 89 | Moldova | 17.9 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 90 | France | 18.2 | 2013 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 91 | Jordan | 18.5 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 92 | Dominican Republic | 18.9 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 93 | Czechia | 18.9 | 2013 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 94 | Belarus | 19.2 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 95 | Romania | 19.3 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 96 | Bahamas, The | 19.4 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 97 | Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 19.7 | 2015 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 98 | Nepal | 19.7 | 2019 | South Asia |
| 99 | Belize | 19.8 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 100 | Brazil | 20.2 | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 101 | Guatemala | 20.3 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 102 | Viet Nam | 20.3 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 103 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 20.3 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 104 | Cabo Verde | 21.1 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 105 | Russian Federation | 21.3 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 106 | Uzbekistan | 21.5 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 107 | Tonga | 21.6 | 2015 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 108 | Sri Lanka | 21.7 | 2018 | South Asia |
| 109 | Panama | 22 | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 110 | Tajikistan | 22.3 | 2017 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 111 | Liberia | 22.3 | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 112 | Lao PDR | 22.3 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 113 | Guyana | 23.2 | 2012 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 114 | Equatorial Guinea | 23.2 | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 115 | Colombia | 23.3 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 116 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 23.7 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 117 | Botswana | 23.7 | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 118 | Paraguay | 24.2 | 2012 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 119 | Ecuador | 24.3 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 120 | Algeria | 24.3 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 121 | Myanmar | 24.4 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 122 | West Bank and Gaza | 24.5 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 123 | United Arab Emirates | 24.5 | 2016 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 124 | Gabon | 24.5 | 2011 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 125 | Jamaica | 24.8 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 126 | Kyrgyz Republic | 25 | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 127 | Namibia | 25.1 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 128 | Solomon Islands | 25.4 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 129 | Kiribati | 25.5 | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 130 | Honduras | 25.6 | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 131 | Mexico | 26.6 | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 132 | Vanuatu | 26.6 | 2015 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 133 | Eswatini | 26.6 | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 134 | Morocco | 26.8 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 135 | El Salvador | 26.9 | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 136 | Yemen, Rep. | 26.9 | 2016 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 137 | Timor-Leste | 26.9 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 138 | Ghana | 27 | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 139 | Sierra Leone | 27.5 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 140 | Fiji | 28 | 2012 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 141 | Comoros | 28.1 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 142 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 28.5 | 2017 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 143 | Philippines | 29.1 | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 144 | Djibouti | 29.4 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 145 | Bangladesh | 30.1 | 2018 | South Asia |
| 146 | Nicaragua | 30.2 | 2010 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 147 | Samoa | 30.2 | 2010 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 148 | South Africa | 30.3 | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 149 | Mongolia | 30.4 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 150 | Kenya | 30.7 | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 151 | Sao Tome and Principe | 31.2 | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 152 | India | 32.7 | 2017 | South Asia |
| 153 | Lesotho | 32.9 | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 154 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 33.2 | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 155 | Mauritania | 34.3 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 156 | Bhutan | 34.7 | 2018 | South Asia |
| 157 | Papua New Guinea | 35.5 | 2016 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 158 | Gambia, The | 36.1 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 159 | Senegal | 36.3 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 160 | Niger | 36.3 | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 161 | Zimbabwe | 36.4 | 2013 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 162 | Nigeria | 37.6 | 2010 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 163 | Mali | 37.8 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 164 | Eritrea | 38.7 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 165 | Benin | 39.2 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 166 | Burkina Faso | 39.7 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 167 | Madagascar | 39.8 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 168 | Togo | 40.1 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 169 | Naoero | 40.2 | 2016 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 170 | Cambodia | 41.7 | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 171 | Cote d'Ivoire | 41.8 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 172 | Zambia | 42.1 | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 173 | Burundi | 42.5 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 174 | Uganda | 42.7 | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 175 | Pakistan | 44.1 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 176 | Congo, Rep. | 44.4 | 2012 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 177 | Cameroon | 44.8 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 178 | South Sudan | 46.8 | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 179 | Guinea | 47.1 | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 180 | Afghanistan | 48.8 | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 181 | Angola | 50 | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 182 | Tanzania | 50.6 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 183 | Guinea-Bissau | 51.9 | 2010 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 184 | Ethiopia | 55.1 | 2011 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 185 | Mozambique | 55.3 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 186 | Chad | 56.9 | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 187 | Malawi | 58.7 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 188 | Rwanda | 59.5 | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 189 | Central African Republic | 83.4 | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
More on pupil-teacher ratio
- Countries With the Highest Pupil-teacher Ratios
- Pupil-teacher ratio by country: trend over time and what it goes with
Related rankings
- Countries With the Lowest PISA Maths
- Countries With the Lowest PISA Reading
- Countries With the Lowest PISA Science
- Countries With the Lowest Primary Completion
- Countries With the Lowest Expected Schooling
- Countries With the Lowest Mean Years of Schooling
- Countries With the Lowest Education Spending
- Countries With the Lowest Primary Enrollment
A ranking describes countries, not the people in them, and a high or low place does not by itself say why. All country rankings.