Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in United States of America
United States of America: Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education was 13.39 pupils per teacher in 2023. ▼ Falling
Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in United States of America, 2014–2023
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 United States of America is 13.39 pupils per teacher, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in United States of America peaked at 14.61 pupils per teacher in 2019 and was at its lowest, 13.26 pupils per teacher, in 2022.
United States of America ranks 93rd of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in United States of America, year by year
| Year | pupils per teacher | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 14.54 pupils per teacher | — |
| 2015 | 14.46 pupils per teacher | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 14.24 pupils per teacher | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 14.2 pupils per teacher | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 14.24 pupils per teacher | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 14.61 pupils per teacher | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 14.44 pupils per teacher | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 13.57 pupils per teacher | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 13.26 pupils per teacher | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 13.39 pupils per teacher | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 14.38 pupils per teacher | 14.2 pupils per teacher | 14.61 pupils per teacher | 6 |
| 2020s | 13.66 pupils per teacher | 13.26 pupils per teacher | 14.44 pupils per teacher | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 90 Kazakhstan 13.91 pupils per teacher compare
- 91 Mauritius 13.76 pupils per teacher compare
- 92 Cayman Islands 13.42 pupils per teacher compare
- 94 Macau, China 13.24 pupils per teacher compare
- 95 Brunei Darussalam 13.2 pupils per teacher compare
- 96 Bahrain 13.01 pupils per teacher compare
More education data for United States of America
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in United States of America?
- Pupils per qualified teacher in primary education in United States of America was 13.39 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 14.61 pupils per teacher in 2019.
- What is the lowest pupils per qualified teacher in primary education recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.26 pupils per teacher in 2022.
- How does United States of America rank for pupils per qualified teacher in primary education?
- United States of America ranks 93rd out of 113 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pupils per qualified teacher in primary education rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States of America 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.