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
1st
of 32 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

United Kingdom recorded 17.8 for pupil/ student - teacher ratio and average class size (isced 1-3) in 2012.

The figure 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.

United Kingdom ranks 1st of 32 countries on this measure, 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. 2 Netherlands 16.5 compare
  2. 3 Ireland 15.7 compare
  3. 4 Germany 15.4 compare
  4. 4 Romania 15.4 compare

See the full ranking of 35 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 1st out of 32 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 27 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/pupil-student-teacher-ratio-and-average-class-size-isced-1-3-1998-2012/united-kingdom/

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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
35 places, 457 data points, 1998–2012
Last refreshed