Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Portugal
Portugal: Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education was 11.78 pupils per teacher in 2020. ▲ Rising
Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Portugal, 2000–2020
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 Portugal is 11.78 pupils per teacher, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Portugal peaked at 13.41 pupils per teacher in 2014 and was at its lowest, 10.53 pupils per teacher, in 2005.
That places Portugal 101st out of 113 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Portugal, year by year
| Year | pupils per teacher | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.24 pupils per teacher | — |
| 2001 | 12.95 pupils per teacher | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 11.07 pupils per teacher | -14.5% |
| 2003 | 11.11 pupils per teacher | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 11.57 pupils per teacher | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 10.53 pupils per teacher | -9.0% |
| 2006 | 10.6 pupils per teacher | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 11.73 pupils per teacher | +10.6% |
| 2008 | 11.26 pupils per teacher | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 11.25 pupils per teacher | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 10.83 pupils per teacher | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 11.1 pupils per teacher | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 11.73 pupils per teacher | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 12.78 pupils per teacher | +8.9% |
| 2014 | 13.41 pupils per teacher | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 13.31 pupils per teacher | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 12.78 pupils per teacher | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 12.35 pupils per teacher | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 12.1 pupils per teacher | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 11.98 pupils per teacher | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 11.78 pupils per teacher | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.53 pupils per teacher | 10.53 pupils per teacher | 13.24 pupils per teacher | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.24 pupils per teacher | 10.83 pupils per teacher | 13.41 pupils per teacher | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.78 pupils per teacher | 11.78 pupils per teacher | 11.78 pupils per teacher | 1 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Portugal?
- Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Portugal was 11.78 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 13.41 pupils per teacher in 2014.
- What is the lowest pupils per qualified teacher in primary education recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.53 pupils per teacher in 2005.
- How does Portugal rank for pupils per qualified teacher in primary education?
- Portugal ranks 101st out of 113 countries with data for 2020.
- Is pupils per qualified teacher in primary education rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal 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.