Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Ireland
Ireland: Pupil-teacher ratio, primary was 16.06 in 2012. ▼ Falling
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Ireland, 1975–2012
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Ireland is 16.06, measured in 2012.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Ireland peaked at 31.08 in 1977 and was at its lowest, 15.57, in 2011.
That places Ireland 126th out of 199 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 30.02 | — |
| 1976 | 31 | +3.2% |
| 1977 | 31.08 | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 30.99 | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 30.04 | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 29.39 | -2.2% |
| 1981 | 28.7 | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 28.38 | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 27.89 | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 27.15 | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 27.1 | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 26.81 | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 26.63 | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 26.66 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 27.52 | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 27.23 | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 26.69 | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 25.9 | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 24.81 | -4.2% |
| 1994 | 24.18 | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 23.32 | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 22.54 | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 22.15 | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 25.84 | +16.7% |
| 1999 | 21.59 | -16.5% |
| 2001 | 20.29 | -6.0% |
| 2002 | 19.41 | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 18.67 | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 18.17 | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 17.87 | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 17.2 | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 15.94 | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 15.86 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 15.81 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 15.8 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 15.57 | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 16.06 | +3.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 16.06 is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.51, 1.2× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 16.06 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 13.51, 1.2× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30.63 | 30.02 | 31.08 | 5 |
| 1980s | 27.62 | 26.63 | 29.39 | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.42 | 21.59 | 27.23 | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.69 | 15.81 | 20.29 | 9 |
| 2010s | 15.81 | 15.57 | 16.06 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 32,531 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,942 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,745 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 49,975 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 456,625 (2022)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 548,873 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.49 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1053 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Ireland?
- Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Ireland was 16.06 in 2012, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest pupil-teacher ratio, primary recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 31.08 in 1977.
- What is the lowest pupil-teacher ratio, primary recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.57 in 2011.
- How does Ireland rank for pupil-teacher ratio, primary?
- Ireland ranks 126th out of 199 countries with data for 2012.
- Is pupil-teacher ratio, primary rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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.