Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in India
India: Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) was 25.31 headcount basis in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
25.31 headcount basis
Change on year
down 12.2%
World rank
44th
of 113 countries
All-time high
40.02 headcount basis
in 2016
All-time low
25.31 headcount basis
in 2025
Years of data
9
2016–2025
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in India, 2016–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in headcount basis.
Analysis
India recorded 25.31 headcount basis for pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.2% on the previous year and down 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in India peaked at 40.02 headcount basis in 2016 and was at its lowest, 25.31 headcount basis, in 2025.
India ranks 44th of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in India, year by year
| Year | headcount basis | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 40.02 headcount basis | — |
| 2017 | 36.66 headcount basis | -8.4% |
| 2019 | 30.1 headcount basis | -17.9% |
| 2020 | 28.49 headcount basis | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 28.15 headcount basis | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 29.92 headcount basis | +6.3% |
| 2023 | 28.66 headcount basis | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 28.83 headcount basis | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 25.31 headcount basis | -12.2% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 25.31 headcount basis is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 31.28 headcount basis, 81% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
- India's 25.31 headcount basis is above the median for South Asia, which is 23.36 headcount basis, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 35.59 headcount basis | 30.1 headcount basis | 40.02 headcount basis | 3 |
| 2020s | 28.23 headcount basis | 25.31 headcount basis | 29.92 headcount basis | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 41 El Salvador 26.95 headcount basis compare
- 42 Uzbekistan 26.12 headcount basis compare
- 43 Djibouti 25.45 headcount basis compare
- 45 Turkmenistan 25.27 headcount basis compare
- 46 Laos 24.77 headcount basis
- 47 Iran 24.4 headcount basis compare
More education data for India
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.31 million (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 3.10 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 19.37 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18.52 million (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 133.16 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 126.12 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -8.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0862 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in India?
- Pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education in India was 25.31 headcount basis in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 40.02 headcount basis in 2016.
- What is the lowest pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.31 headcount basis in 2025.
- How does India rank for pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education?
- India ranks 44th out of 113 countries with data for 2025.
- Is pupil-qualified teacher ratio in primary education rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.
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CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release