Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in Portugal
Portugal: Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) was 11.78 headcount basis in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
11.78 headcount basis
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
127th
of 139 countries
All-time high
13.41 headcount basis
in 2014
All-time low
10.53 headcount basis
in 2005
Years of data
21
2000–2020
Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Portugal, 2000–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in headcount basis.
Analysis
In 2020, pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Portugal stood at 11.78 headcount basis.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Portugal peaked at 13.41 headcount basis in 2014 and was at its lowest, 10.53 headcount basis, in 2005.
That places Portugal 127th out of 139 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | headcount basis | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.24 headcount basis | — |
| 2001 | 12.95 headcount basis | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 11.07 headcount basis | -14.5% |
| 2003 | 11.11 headcount basis | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 11.57 headcount basis | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 10.53 headcount basis | -9.0% |
| 2006 | 10.6 headcount basis | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 11.73 headcount basis | +10.6% |
| 2008 | 11.26 headcount basis | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 11.25 headcount basis | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 10.83 headcount basis | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 11.1 headcount basis | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 11.73 headcount basis | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 12.78 headcount basis | +8.9% |
| 2014 | 13.41 headcount basis | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 13.31 headcount basis | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 12.78 headcount basis | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 12.35 headcount basis | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 12.1 headcount basis | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 11.98 headcount basis | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 11.78 headcount basis | -1.7% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 11.78 headcount basis is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.46 headcount basis, 88% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 11.78 headcount basis is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.96 headcount basis, 79% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.53 headcount basis | 10.53 headcount basis | 13.24 headcount basis | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.24 headcount basis | 10.83 headcount basis | 13.41 headcount basis | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.78 headcount basis | 11.78 headcount basis | 11.78 headcount basis | 1 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Portugal?
- Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Portugal was 11.78 headcount basis in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 13.41 headcount basis in 2014.
- What is the lowest pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.53 headcount basis in 2005.
- How does Portugal rank for pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education?
- Portugal ranks 127th out of 139 countries with data for 2020.
- Is pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release