Pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (ISCED 1-3) in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (ISCED 1-3) was 17.8 in 2012. ▼ Falling

Latest (2012)
17.8
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
2nd
of 42 countries
All-time high
20.1
in 2002
All-time low
15.2
in 2007
Years of data
14
1998–2012

Pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (ISCED 1-3) in United Kingdom, 1998–2012

051015201998200520121998: 18.81999: 19.82000: 19.62001: 19.32002: 20.12003: 19.62004: 16.72006: 15.62007: 15.22008: 15.72009: 15.82010: 17.32011: 17.72012: 17.8

Source: Eurostat.

Analysis

The most recent figure for pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (isced 1-3) in United Kingdom is 17.8, measured in 2012.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (isced 1-3) in United Kingdom peaked at 20.1 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 15.2, in 2007.

That places United Kingdom 2nd out of 42 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.

Pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (ISCED 1-3) in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (ISCED 1-3) (1998-2012) in United Kingdom, 1998 to 2012.
Year Value Change
1998 18.8
1999 19.8 +5.3%
2000 19.6 -1.0%
2001 19.3 -1.5%
2002 20.1 +4.1%
2003 19.6 -2.5%
2004 16.7 -14.8%
2006 15.6 -6.6%
2007 15.2 -2.6%
2008 15.7 +3.3%
2009 15.8 +0.6%
2010 17.3 +9.5%
2011 17.7 +2.3%
2012 17.8 +0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 19.3 18.8 19.8 2
2000s 17.51 15.2 20.1 9
2010s 17.6 17.3 17.8 3

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 1 Türkiye 18.9 compare
  2. 2 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 17.8 compare
  3. 4 Netherlands 16.5 compare
  4. 4 Netherlands 16.5 compare

See the full ranking of 44 places →

More education data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (isced 1-3) in United Kingdom?
Pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (isced 1-3) in United Kingdom was 17.8 in 2012, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (isced 1-3) recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 20.1 in 2002.
What is the lowest pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (isced 1-3) recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 15.2 in 2007.
How does United Kingdom rank for pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (isced 1-3)?
United Kingdom ranks 2nd out of 42 countries with data for 2012.
Is pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (isced 1-3) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (ISCED 1-3) (1998-2012). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (ISCED 1-3) in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/pupil-student-teacher-ratio-and-average-class-size-isced-1-3-1998-2012/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (ISCED 1-3) (1998-2012)
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
44 places, 573 data points, 1998–2012
Last refreshed