Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education was 21.93 pupils per teacher in 2023. ▼ Falling
Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Sri Lanka, 2015–2023
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 Sri Lanka is 21.93 pupils per teacher, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 4.9% on the previous year and down 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Sri Lanka peaked at 27.19 pupils per teacher in 2015 and was at its lowest, 21.93 pupils per teacher, in 2023.
That places Sri Lanka 56th out of 113 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | pupils per teacher | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 27.19 pupils per teacher | — |
| 2016 | 27.07 pupils per teacher | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 26.77 pupils per teacher | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 26.47 pupils per teacher | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 26 pupils per teacher | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 25.96 pupils per teacher | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 23.64 pupils per teacher | -8.9% |
| 2022 | 23.06 pupils per teacher | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 21.93 pupils per teacher | -4.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 26.7 pupils per teacher | 26 pupils per teacher | 27.19 pupils per teacher | 5 |
| 2020s | 23.65 pupils per teacher | 21.93 pupils per teacher | 25.96 pupils per teacher | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 777,541 (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -2.9 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0353 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 798,817 (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0362 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.4555 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 73,333 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.32 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Sri Lanka?
- Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in Sri Lanka was 21.93 pupils per teacher in 2023, 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 27.19 pupils per teacher in 2015.
- What is the lowest pupils per qualified teacher in primary education recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.93 pupils per teacher in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for pupils per qualified teacher in primary education?
- Sri Lanka ranks 56th out of 113 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pupils per qualified teacher in primary education rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.