Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Pupil-teacher ratio, primary was 21.74 in 2018. ▼ Falling
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Sri Lanka, 1976–2018
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 21.74 for pupil-teacher ratio, primary in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.2% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Sri Lanka peaked at 31.93 in 1978 and was at its lowest, 21.74, in 2018.
Sri Lanka ranks 85th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 29.93 | — |
| 1977 | 30.24 | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 31.93 | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 29.43 | -7.8% |
| 1993 | 28.75 | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 27.96 | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 27.82 | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 27.79 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 26.28 | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 24.85 | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 23.43 | -5.7% |
| 2004 | 22.5 | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 21.92 | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 23.48 | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 23.81 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 23.5 | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 23.15 | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 23.91 | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 24.07 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 24.43 | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 23.75 | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 23.66 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 23.15 | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 23.17 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 22.93 | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 21.74 | -5.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 21.74 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.75, 1.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 21.74 is below the median for South Asia, which is 25.9, 84% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30.7 | 29.93 | 31.93 | 3 |
| 1990s | 28.35 | 27.79 | 29.43 | 5 |
| 2000s | 23.66 | 21.92 | 26.28 | 9 |
| 2010s | 23.42 | 21.74 | 24.43 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Sri Lanka?
- Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Sri Lanka was 21.74 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 31.93 in 1978.
- What is the lowest pupil-teacher ratio, primary recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.74 in 2018.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for pupil-teacher ratio, primary?
- Sri Lanka ranks 85th out of 199 countries with data for 2018.
- Is pupil-teacher ratio, primary rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.