Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary (headcount basis) in United States
United States: Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary (headcount basis) was 14.29 headcount basis in 2023. ▬ Flat
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary in United States, 2014–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in headcount basis.
Analysis
The most recent figure for pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary in United States is 14.29 headcount basis, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary in United States peaked at 14.8 headcount basis in 2014 and was at its lowest, 14.29 headcount basis, in 2023.
That places United States 43rd out of 69 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary (headcount basis) in United States, year by year
| Year | headcount basis | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 14.8 headcount basis | — |
| 2015 | 14.71 headcount basis | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 14.6 headcount basis | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 14.55 headcount basis | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 14.46 headcount basis | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 14.71 headcount basis | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 14.57 headcount basis | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 14.61 headcount basis | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 14.43 headcount basis | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 14.29 headcount basis | -0.9% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 14.29 headcount basis is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.55 headcount basis, 1.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 14.64 headcount basis | 14.46 headcount basis | 14.8 headcount basis | 6 |
| 2020s | 14.47 headcount basis | 14.29 headcount basis | 14.61 headcount basis | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 40 Bahamas 16.09 headcount basis compare
- 41 Jordan 15.06 headcount basis compare
- 42 Bhutan 14.97 headcount basis compare
- 44 Saudi Arabia 13.86 headcount basis compare
- 45 Marshall Islands 13.7 headcount basis compare
- 46 Costa Rica 12.94 headcount basis compare
More education data for United States
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary in United States?
- Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary in United States was 14.29 headcount basis in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 14.8 headcount basis in 2014.
- What is the lowest pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.29 headcount basis in 2023.
- How does United States rank for pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary?
- United States ranks 43rd out of 69 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in lower secondary (headcount basis). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release