Countries in Europe Ranked by Pupil-teacher ratio (primary) (2018)
Pupil-teacher ratio (primary): each country's latest value (2013–2018), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Russian Federation ranks #1 with 21.3 pupils per teacher (2017). Romania is second with 19.3 pupils per teacher, 10% behind. The top five are Russian Federation, Romania, Belarus, Czechia and France. The median across all 43 is 12.4 pupils per teacher; San Marino is last at 6.93 pupils per teacher. Russian Federation's figure has risen 9% since 1994 (19.6 pupils per teacher to 21.3 pupils per teacher in 2017).
- #1
- Russian Federation · 21.3 pupils per teacher
- Median
- 12.4 pupils per teacher
- Coverage
- 43 countries in Europe
- Data year
- 2018
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Pupil-teacher ratio (primary) (pupils per teacher) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russian Federation | 21.3 | 2017 |
| 2 | Romania | 19.3 | 2017 |
| 3 | Belarus | 19.2 | 2018 |
| 4 | Czechia | 18.9 | 2013 |
| 5 | France | 18.2 | 2013 |
| 6 | Moldova | 17.9 | 2018 |
| 7 | Albania | 17.6 | 2018 |
| 8 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 16.9 | 2018 |
| 9 | Slovak Republic | 15.5 | 2017 |
| 10 | Bulgaria | 15.2 | 2017 |
| 11 | United Kingdom | 15.1 | 2017 |
| 12 | North Macedonia | 14.9 | 2017 |
| 13 | Serbia | 14.3 | 2018 |
| 14 | Gibraltar | 14.2 | 2017 |
| 15 | Slovenia | 13.8 | 2016 |
| 16 | Finland | 13.7 | 2017 |
| 17 | Lithuania | 13.5 | 2017 |
| 18 | Croatia | 13.5 | 2016 |
| 19 | Spain | 13.1 | 2017 |
| 20 | Ukraine | 13 | 2018 |
| 21 | Malta | 12.9 | 2017 |
| 22 | Portugal | 12.4 | 2017 |
| 23 | Germany | 12.3 | 2017 |
| 24 | Sweden | 12.2 | 2017 |
| 25 | Cyprus | 12 | 2017 |
| 26 | Netherlands | 11.8 | 2017 |
| 27 | Monaco | 11.7 | 2019 |
| 28 | Latvia | 11.5 | 2017 |
| 29 | Italy | 11.5 | 2017 |
| 30 | Estonia | 11.3 | 2017 |
| 31 | Belgium | 11.3 | 2017 |
| 32 | Hungary | 10.8 | 2016 |
| 33 | Denmark | 10.7 | 2014 |
| 34 | Andorra | 10.5 | 2018 |
| 35 | Poland | 10.2 | 2017 |
| 36 | Iceland | 10.1 | 2015 |
| 37 | Austria | 10 | 2017 |
| 38 | Switzerland | 9.93 | 2017 |
| 39 | Greece | 9.38 | 2017 |
| 40 | Norway | 8.59 | 2017 |
| 41 | Luxembourg | 8.3 | 2016 |
| 42 | Liechtenstein | 7.8 | 2017 |
| 43 | San Marino | 6.93 | 2018 |
About the top 10
#1 Russian Federation
Russian Federation ranks #1 on this list with 21.3 pupils per teacher (2017).
- Capital
- Moscow
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 143.51 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.56 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$17,547 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk.
Also ranks #1 in land area · #1 in surface area · #1 in forest area.
#2 Romania
Romania ranks #2 on this list with 19.3 pupils per teacher (2017).
- Capital
- Bucharest
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 19.02 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$428.68 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$22,538 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 52.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bucharest.
Also ranks #1 in alcohol consumption per capita · #8 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #13 in death rate.
#3 Belarus
Belarus ranks #3 on this list with 19.2 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- Minsk
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 9.09 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$93.4 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$10,279 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 79.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Minsk.
Also ranks #2 in income share of poorest 10% · #4 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #6 in literacy rate.
#4 Czechia
Czechia ranks #4 on this list with 18.9 pupils per teacher (2013).
- Capital
- Prague
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 10.89 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$391.03 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$35,917 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 80 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 72.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Prague.
Also ranks #5 in alcohol consumption per capita · #7 in tourism arrivals · #12 in hospital beds per 10,000.
#5 France
France ranks #5 on this list with 18.2 pupils per teacher (2013).
- Capital
- Paris
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 68.72 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.37 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$48,986 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 78.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Paris, Metropolis of Lyon, Bordeaux Métropole.
Also ranks #1 in tourism arrivals · #1 in account ownership (female) share · #3 in remittances received.
#6 Moldova
Moldova ranks #6 on this list with 17.9 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- Chișinău
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 2.36 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$20.35 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$8,622 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 43.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in real effective exchange rate index · #2 in female population share · #5 in arable land share.
#7 Albania
Albania ranks #7 on this list with 17.6 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- Tirana
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 2.35 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$30.54 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$12,998 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 79.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 58.9% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in electricity access rate · #2 in access to electricity (rural) · #11 in completion rate (lower secondary).
#8 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks #8 on this list with 16.9 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- Sarajevo
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 3.14 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$32.6 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$10,382 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 52.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #6 in time to start a business (days) · #7 in death rate · #11 in smoking prevalence.
#9 Slovak Republic
Slovak Republic ranks #9 on this list with 15.5 pupils per teacher (2017).
- Capital
- Bratislava
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.41 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$154.53 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$28,544 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 53.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #13 in trade share of gdp · #16 in government revenue share of gdp · #17 in tourism arrivals.
#10 Bulgaria
Bulgaria ranks #10 on this list with 15.2 pupils per teacher (2017).
- Capital
- Sofia
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 6.43 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$130.78 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$20,328 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 75.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 74.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Sofia.
Also ranks #2 in death rate · #2 in bank branches per 100,000 adults · #6 in hospital beds per 10,000.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Pupil-teacher ratio (primary): each country's latest value (2013–2018), ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SE.PRM.ENRL.TC.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Pupil-teacher ratio, primary: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.