Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in China
China: Pupil-teacher ratio, primary was 16.43 in 2018. ▼ Falling
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in China, 1970–2018
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for pupil-teacher ratio, primary in China is 16.43, measured in 2018.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-teacher ratio, primary in China peaked at 29.29 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 16.23, in 2014.
China ranks 122nd of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 28.87 | — |
| 1971 | 29.15 | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 27.38 | -6.1% |
| 1973 | 28.53 | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 29 | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 29.29 | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 29.01 | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 28.37 | -2.2% |
| 1978 | 27.97 | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 27.98 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 27.25 | -2.6% |
| 1981 | 26.6 | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 25.69 | -3.4% |
| 1983 | 25.38 | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 25.03 | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 25.25 | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 24.87 | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 24.35 | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 23.62 | -3.0% |
| 1989 | 22.79 | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 22.32 | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 21.93 | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 21.99 | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 22.08 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 22.37 | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 22.85 | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 23.3 | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 23.74 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 24.16 | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 22.21 | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 18.25 | -17.8% |
| 2007 | 17.68 | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 17.55 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 17.22 | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 16.84 | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 16.79 | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 16.85 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 16.85 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 16.23 | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 16.29 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 16.55 | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 16.59 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 16.43 | -1.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 16.43 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.75, 93% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- China's 16.43 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 20.15, 82% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 28.56 | 27.38 | 29.29 | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.08 | 22.79 | 27.25 | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.75 | 21.93 | 24.16 | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.58 | 17.22 | 22.21 | 5 |
| 2010s | 16.6 | 16.23 | 16.85 | 9 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0771 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupil-teacher ratio, primary in China?
- Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in China was 16.43 in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest pupil-teacher ratio, primary recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 29.29 in 1975.
- What is the lowest pupil-teacher ratio, primary recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.23 in 2014.
- How does China rank for pupil-teacher ratio, primary?
- China ranks 122nd out of 199 countries with data for 2018.
- Is pupil-teacher ratio, primary rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Pupil-teacher ratio, primary. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Primary school pupil-teacher ratio is the average number of pupils per teacher in primary school.