Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) was 24.89 headcount basis in 2023. ▼ Falling
Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sri Lanka, 2010–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in headcount basis.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 24.89 headcount basis for pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.6% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sri Lanka peaked at 29.6 headcount basis in 2013 and was at its lowest, 24.89 headcount basis, in 2023.
That places Sri Lanka 60th out of 139 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | headcount basis | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 29.12 headcount basis | — |
| 2011 | 29.21 headcount basis | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 29.6 headcount basis | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 26.85 headcount basis | -9.3% |
| 2016 | 27.13 headcount basis | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 26.83 headcount basis | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 26.5 headcount basis | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 26.1 headcount basis | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 26.32 headcount basis | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 26.43 headcount basis | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 26.08 headcount basis | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 24.89 headcount basis | -4.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 24.89 headcount basis is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20.92 headcount basis, 1.2× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 24.89 headcount basis is below the median for South Asia, which is 26.9 headcount basis, 93% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 27.67 headcount basis | 26.1 headcount basis | 29.6 headcount basis | 8 |
| 2020s | 25.93 headcount basis | 24.89 headcount basis | 26.43 headcount basis | 4 |
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-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sri Lanka?
- Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sri Lanka was 24.89 headcount basis in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 29.6 headcount basis in 2013.
- What is the lowest pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.89 headcount basis in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education?
- Sri Lanka ranks 60th out of 139 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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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CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release