Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in India
India: Pupil-teacher ratio, primary was 32.75 in 2017. ▼ Falling
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in India, 1971–2017
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
India recorded 32.75 for pupil-teacher ratio, primary in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.0% on the previous year and down 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-teacher ratio, primary in India peaked at 42.9 in 1979 and was at its lowest, 31.29, in 2014.
India ranks 39th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 41.45 | — |
| 1972 | 41.62 | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 42.54 | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 42.52 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 41.93 | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 42.11 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 42.9 | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 40 | -6.8% |
| 2000 | 40 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 40.15 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 40.66 | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 41.33 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 35.15 | -14.9% |
| 2013 | 32.32 | -8.1% |
| 2014 | 31.29 | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 31.49 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 35.22 | +11.8% |
| 2017 | 32.75 | -7.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 32.75 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 30.05, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 32.75 is above the median for South Asia, which is 25.9, 1.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 42.15 | 41.45 | 42.9 | 7 |
| 1990s | 40 | 40 | 40 | 1 |
| 2000s | 40.54 | 40 | 41.33 | 4 |
| 2010s | 33.04 | 31.29 | 35.22 | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.31 million (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 3.10 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 19.37 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18.52 million (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 133.16 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 126.12 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -8.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0862 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupil-teacher ratio, primary in India?
- Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in India was 32.75 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 42.9 in 1979.
- What is the lowest pupil-teacher ratio, primary recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.29 in 2014.
- How does India rank for pupil-teacher ratio, primary?
- India ranks 39th out of 199 countries with data for 2017.
- Is pupil-teacher ratio, primary rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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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About this data
Primary school pupil-teacher ratio is the average number of pupils per teacher in primary school.