Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Germany

Germany: Pupil-teacher ratio, primary was 12.3 in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
12.3
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
165th
of 199 countries
All-time high
17.46
in 1995
All-time low
11.58
in 2013
Years of data
25
1993–2017

Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Germany, 1993–2017

0510151993200520171993: 16.61994: 16.21995: 17.51996: 171997: 17.21998: 17.41999: 172000: 15.32001: 14.82002: 14.32003: 142004: 14.22005: 14.12006: 142007: 13.62008: 13.52009: 132010: 12.72011: 11.82012: 11.72013: 11.62014: 12.32015: 12.22016: 12.12017: 12.3

Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Germany is 12.3, measured in 2017.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Germany peaked at 17.46 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 11.58, in 2013.

That places Germany 165th out of 199 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Germany, year by year

Annual values for Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Germany, 1993 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1993 16.63
1994 16.23 -2.4%
1995 17.46 +7.6%
1996 17.04 -2.4%
1997 17.19 +0.9%
1998 17.44 +1.5%
1999 17.02 -2.4%
2000 15.28 -10.2%
2001 14.76 -3.4%
2002 14.29 -3.2%
2003 14.05 -1.7%
2004 14.19 +1.0%
2005 14.12 -0.5%
2006 13.96 -1.1%
2007 13.63 -2.4%
2008 13.5 -1.0%
2009 13 -3.7%
2010 12.68 -2.4%
2011 11.82 -6.8%
2012 11.71 -0.9%
2013 11.58 -1.1%
2014 12.3 +6.2%
2015 12.22 -0.6%
2016 12.15 -0.6%
2017 12.3 +1.3%

Germany compared with similar countries

  • Germany's 12.3 is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.51, 91% of the median. (76 countries reporting)
  • Germany's 12.3 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 13.51, 91% of the median. (51 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 17 16.23 17.46 7
2000s 14.08 13 15.28 10
2010s 12.1 11.58 12.68 8

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 162 Lebanon 12.48 compare
  2. 163 Antigua and Barbuda 12.41 compare
  3. 164 Portugal 12.35 compare
  4. 166 Sweden 12.23 compare
  5. 167 Costa Rica 12.2 compare
  6. 168 Qatar 12.17 compare

See the full ranking of 242 places →

More education data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Germany?
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Germany was 12.3 in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest pupil-teacher ratio, primary recorded in Germany?
The highest recorded value was 17.46 in 1995.
What is the lowest pupil-teacher ratio, primary recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 11.58 in 2013.
How does Germany rank for pupil-teacher ratio, primary?
Germany ranks 165th out of 199 countries with data for 2017.
Is pupil-teacher ratio, primary rising or falling in Germany?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Germany 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.

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Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Germany. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/pupil-teacher-ratio-primary/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
242 places, 8,053 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Primary school pupil-teacher ratio is the average number of pupils per teacher in primary school.