Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education was 11.69 pupils per teacher in 2020. ▼ Falling
Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Costa Rica, 2013–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in pupils per teacher.
Analysis
The most recent figure for pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Costa Rica is 11.69 pupils per teacher, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 14.6% over ten years.
Costa Rica ranks 103rd of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | pupils per teacher | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 13.7 pupils per teacher | — |
| 2014 | 13.58 pupils per teacher | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 12.98 pupils per teacher | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 12.29 pupils per teacher | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 11.94 pupils per teacher | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 12.52 pupils per teacher | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 11.92 pupils per teacher | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 11.69 pupils per teacher | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 12.7 pupils per teacher | 11.92 pupils per teacher | 13.7 pupils per teacher | 7 |
| 2020s | 11.69 pupils per teacher | 11.69 pupils per teacher | 11.69 pupils per teacher | 1 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More education data for Costa Rica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37,015 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,772 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 62,694 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 61,047 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 464,490 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 460,126 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Costa Rica?
- Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Costa Rica was 11.69 pupils per teacher in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest pupils per qualified teacher in primary education recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 13.7 pupils per teacher in 2013.
- What is the lowest pupils per qualified teacher in primary education recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.69 pupils per teacher in 2020.
- How does Costa Rica rank for pupils per qualified teacher in primary education?
- Costa Rica ranks 103rd out of 113 countries with data for 2020.
- Is pupils per qualified teacher in primary education rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
A qualified teacher is one who has the minimum academic qualifications necessary to teach at a primary level of education in a given country.