Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in China
China: Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) was 16.31 headcount basis in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
16.31 headcount basis
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
72nd
of 113 countries
All-time high
17.2 headcount basis
in 2017
All-time low
16.22 headcount basis
in 2023
Years of data
10
2015–2024
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in China, 2015–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in headcount basis.
Analysis
The most recent figure for pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in China is 16.31 headcount basis, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in China peaked at 17.2 headcount basis in 2017 and was at its lowest, 16.22 headcount basis, in 2023.
China ranks 72nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in China, year by year
| Year | headcount basis | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 16.85 headcount basis | — |
| 2016 | 17.12 headcount basis | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 17.2 headcount basis | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 17.02 headcount basis | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 17.01 headcount basis | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 16.89 headcount basis | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 16.71 headcount basis | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 16.37 headcount basis | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 16.22 headcount basis | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 16.31 headcount basis | +0.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 16.31 headcount basis is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.11 headcount basis, 85% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- China's 16.31 headcount basis is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 19.32 headcount basis, 84% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 17.04 headcount basis | 16.85 headcount basis | 17.2 headcount basis | 5 |
| 2020s | 16.5 headcount basis | 16.22 headcount basis | 16.89 headcount basis | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 69 Micronesia (country) 17.45 headcount basis compare
- 70 Jordan 17.34 headcount basis compare
- 71 Trinidad and Tobago 16.44 headcount basis compare
- 73 Tunisia 15.81 headcount basis compare
- 74 Azerbaijan 15.61 headcount basis compare
- 75 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15.36 headcount basis compare
More education data for China
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0771 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in China?
- Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in China was 16.31 headcount basis in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 17.2 headcount basis in 2017.
- What is the lowest pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.22 headcount basis in 2023.
- How does China rank for pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education?
- China ranks 72nd out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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