Countries in North America 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
El Salvador ranks #1 with 26.9 pupils per teacher. Mexico is second with 26.6 pupils per teacher, 1.3% behind. The top five are El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica and Panama. The median across all 24 is 15.2 pupils per teacher; Cuba is last at 9.16 pupils per teacher. El Salvador's figure has fallen 41% since 2003 (45.5 pupils per teacher to 26.9 pupils per teacher in 2018).
- #1
- El Salvador · 26.9 pupils per teacher
- Median
- 15.2 pupils per teacher
- Coverage
- 24 countries in North America
- Data year
- 2018
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Pupil-teacher ratio (primary) (pupils per teacher) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Salvador | 26.9 | 2018 |
| 2 | Mexico | 26.6 | 2017 |
| 3 | Honduras | 25.6 | 2017 |
| 4 | Jamaica | 24.8 | 2018 |
| 5 | Panama | 22 | 2017 |
| 6 | Guatemala | 20.3 | 2018 |
| 7 | Belize | 19.8 | 2018 |
| 8 | Bahamas, The | 19.4 | 2018 |
| 9 | Dominican Republic | 18.9 | 2018 |
| 10 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 17.7 | 2018 |
| 11 | Grenada | 16.4 | 2018 |
| 12 | Cayman Islands | 15.7 | 2018 |
| 13 | St. Lucia | 14.7 | 2018 |
| 14 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 14.4 | 2018 |
| 15 | United States | 14.2 | 2017 |
| 16 | Barbados | 14 | 2018 |
| 17 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 13.9 | 2016 |
| 18 | Puerto Rico (US) | 13.5 | 2016 |
| 19 | Dominica | 13.1 | 2016 |
| 20 | Antigua and Barbuda | 12.4 | 2018 |
| 21 | Costa Rica | 12.2 | 2018 |
| 22 | British Virgin Islands | 11.6 | 2017 |
| 23 | Bermuda | 10.4 | 2015 |
| 24 | Cuba | 9.16 | 2018 |
About the top 10
#1 El Salvador
El Salvador ranks #1 on this list with 26.9 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- San Salvador
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 6.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$36.71 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,767 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in debt service share of exports · #6 in government debt share of gdp · #14 in mobile subscriptions per 100.
#2 Mexico
Mexico ranks #2 on this list with 26.6 pupils per teacher (2017).
- Capital
- Mexico City
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 131.95 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.83 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$13,889 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 75.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Greater Mexico City, Mexico City, Tijuana.
Also ranks #2 in remittances received · #3 in tourism arrivals · #4 in external debt stocks.
#3 Honduras
Honduras ranks #3 on this list with 25.6 pupils per teacher (2017).
- Capital
- Tegucigalpa
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 11.01 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$39.6 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,598 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 59.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tegucigalpa.
Also ranks #6 in deposit interest rate · #10 in gini index · #11 in homicide rate.
#4 Jamaica
Jamaica ranks #4 on this list with 24.8 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- Kingston
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 2.84 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$22.71 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$8,003 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 59.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in debt service share of exports · #4 in homicide rate · #6 in immunisation (dpt) rate.
#5 Panama
Panama ranks #5 on this list with 22 pupils per teacher (2017).
- Capital
- Panama City
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 4.57 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$90.46 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$19,790 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 79.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 66.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Panama City.
Also ranks #7 in gini index · #8 in income share of richest 10% · #15 in gross capital formation rate.
#6 Guatemala
Guatemala ranks #6 on this list with 20.3 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- Guatemala City
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 18.69 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$123.31 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,598 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 56.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #9 in remittances received · #12 in gini index.
#7 Belize
Belize ranks #7 on this list with 19.8 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- Belmopan
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 422,920 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.33 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,866 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 41.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in secure internet servers per million · #12 in homicide rate · #14 in time to start a business (days).
#8 Bahamas, The
Bahamas, The ranks #8 on this list with 19.4 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- Nassau
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 403,030 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$15.83 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$39,455 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 74.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 81.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #6 in access to clean cooking fuels · #10 in homicide rate · #10 in cereal yield.
#9 Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic ranks #9 on this list with 18.9 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- Santo Domingo
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 11.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$127.41 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$11,059 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 72.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Santo Domingo.
Also ranks #4 in crop production index · #14 in deposit interest rate · #19 in remittances received.
#10 Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands ranks #10 on this list with 17.7 pupils per teacher.
- Capital
- Cockburn Town
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 46,855 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.75 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$37,507 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 78.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in homicide rate · #2 in completion rate (primary) · #4 in completion rate (lower secondary).
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.