Countries With the Fastest Decline in Pupil-teacher ratio (primary) (5-Year Change)
Change in Pupil-teacher ratio (primary) over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Malawi fell the most: by 10.5, from 69.1 pupils per teacher to 58.7 pupils per teacher in the five years to 2018. Sierra Leone is second (−7.31), followed by Zambia (−7.16). 71 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −1.85.
- #1
- Malawi · −10.5
- Median
- −1.85
- Coverage
- 71 countries
- Data year
- 2018
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (pupils per teacher) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malawi | 69.1 | 58.7 | −10.5 |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 34.8 | 27.5 | −7.31 |
| 3 | Zambia | 49.2 | 42.1 | −7.16 |
| 4 | Eritrea | 45.7 | 38.7 | −6.93 |
| 5 | Burkina Faso | 46.1 | 39.7 | −6.37 |
| 6 | Uganda | 48.8 | 42.7 | −6.15 |
| 7 | Chad | 62.6 | 56.9 | −5.7 |
| 8 | Cambodia | 46.9 | 41.7 | −5.22 |
| 9 | Djibouti | 34.2 | 29.4 | −4.84 |
| 10 | Dominican Republic | 23.5 | 18.9 | −4.57 |
| 11 | Benin | 43.7 | 39.2 | −4.53 |
| 12 | Nepal | 23.9 | 19.7 | −4.19 |
| 13 | Equatorial Guinea | 27.2 | 23.2 | −3.94 |
| 14 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 37 | 33.2 | −3.81 |
| 15 | Mauritius | 19.8 | 16.2 | −3.59 |
| 16 | Ukraine | 16.5 | 13 | −3.51 |
| 17 | Mali | 41.3 | 37.8 | −3.47 |
| 18 | Guatemala | 23.7 | 20.3 | −3.4 |
| 19 | Chile | 21.2 | 17.8 | −3.37 |
| 20 | Yemen, Rep. | 30.3 | 26.9 | −3.32 |
| 21 | Lao PDR | 25.6 | 22.3 | −3.26 |
| 22 | Tonga | 24.9 | 21.6 | −3.25 |
| 23 | United Kingdom | 18.3 | 15.1 | −3.18 |
| 24 | Türkiye | 20.1 | 17 | −3.15 |
| 25 | Ghana | 30.1 | 27 | −3.08 |
| 26 | Slovenia | 16.7 | 13.8 | −2.91 |
| 27 | Dominica | 15.9 | 13.1 | −2.85 |
| 28 | Belize | 22.6 | 19.8 | −2.79 |
| 29 | Burundi | 45 | 42.5 | −2.48 |
| 30 | Eswatini | 29.1 | 26.6 | −2.46 |
| 31 | Niger | 38.8 | 36.3 | −2.42 |
| 32 | Bulgaria | 17.4 | 15.2 | −2.21 |
| 33 | Sri Lanka | 23.8 | 21.7 | −2.01 |
| 34 | St. Lucia | 16.7 | 14.7 | −1.93 |
| 35 | Lebanon | 14.3 | 12.5 | −1.86 |
| 36 | Cabo Verde | 22.9 | 21.1 | −1.85 |
| 37 | Cyprus | 13.8 | 12 | −1.74 |
| 38 | Colombia | 25 | 23.3 | −1.68 |
| 39 | Korea, Rep. | 17.9 | 16.3 | −1.59 |
| 40 | Albania | 19.1 | 17.6 | −1.55 |
| 41 | Mexico | 28 | 26.6 | −1.46 |
| 42 | Maldives | 11.4 | 10.2 | −1.25 |
| 43 | Costa Rica | 13.3 | 12.2 | −1.14 |
| 44 | Lesotho | 34.1 | 32.9 | −1.13 |
| 45 | Mauritania | 35.4 | 34.3 | −1.1 |
| 46 | Togo | 41.1 | 40.1 | −0.942 |
| 47 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 15.3 | 14.4 | −0.898 |
| 48 | Serbia | 15.2 | 14.3 | −0.864 |
| 49 | France | 19 | 18.2 | −0.86 |
| 50 | Switzerland | 10.8 | 9.93 | −0.825 |
| 51 | Austria | 10.8 | 10 | −0.808 |
| 52 | Tajikistan | 23 | 22.3 | −0.704 |
| 53 | Peru | 18.1 | 17.4 | −0.697 |
| 54 | Luxembourg | 8.99 | 8.3 | −0.69 |
| 55 | Panama | 22.6 | 22 | −0.648 |
| 56 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 14 | 13.3 | −0.645 |
| 57 | Tunisia | 17.4 | 16.9 | −0.558 |
| 58 | Israel | 12.5 | 12.1 | −0.432 |
| 59 | China | 16.9 | 16.4 | −0.426 |
| 60 | Malaysia | 12 | 11.7 | −0.348 |
| 61 | Suriname | 13.7 | 13.4 | −0.345 |
| 62 | Croatia | 13.8 | 13.5 | −0.325 |
| 63 | Rwanda | 59.8 | 59.5 | −0.307 |
| 64 | Brazil | 20.5 | 20.2 | −0.294 |
| 65 | Brunei Darussalam | 10.2 | 9.9 | −0.257 |
| 66 | North Macedonia | 15.2 | 14.9 | −0.237 |
| 67 | Estonia | 11.5 | 11.3 | −0.233 |
| 68 | Macao SAR, China | 13.7 | 13.5 | −0.208 |
| 69 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 17.1 | 16.9 | −0.172 |
| 70 | Georgia | 9.09 | 8.98 | −0.113 |
| 71 | Poland | 10.2 | 10.2 | −0.005 |
About the top 10
#1 Malawi
Malawi ranks #1 on this list with −10.5.
- Capital
- Lilongwe
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 22.22 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$14.92 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$671.5 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 17.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in school enrolment (primary) · #3 in pupil-teacher ratio (primary) · #3 in poverty headcount ratio.
#2 Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone ranks #2 on this list with −7.31.
- Capital
- Freetown
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 8.82 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$7.46 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$846.3 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 62 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 45.9% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in school enrolment (primary) · #7 in under-5 mortality rate · #8 in forest rents share of gdp.
#3 Zambia
Zambia ranks #3 on this list with −7.16.
- Capital
- Lusaka
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 21.91 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$28.88 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,318 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 66.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 45.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Lusaka.
Also ranks #2 in mineral rents share of gdp · #3 in gini index · #4 in prevalence of undernourishment.
#4 Eritrea
Eritrea ranks #4 on this list with −6.93.
- Capital
- Asmara
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 3.61 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 68.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 34.5% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 142,000 arrivals (2016)
- CO2 emissions per person
- 0.22 t CO2e per person (2024)
Also ranks #5 in time to start a business (days) · #9 in refugee population by origin · #12 in female labour force participation.
#5 Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso ranks #5 on this list with −6.37.
- Capital
- Ouagadougou
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 24.08 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$27.63 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,148 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 61.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 28.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Ouagadougou.
Also ranks #7 in mineral rents share of gdp · #9 in children out of school (primary) · #11 in under-5 mortality rate.
#6 Uganda
Uganda ranks #6 on this list with −6.15.
- Capital
- Kampala
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 51.39 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$61.99 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,206 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 68.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 31.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kampala.
Also ranks #6 in renewable energy share · #6 in refugee population by asylum · #7 in agricultural land share.
#7 Chad
Chad ranks #7 on this list with −5.7.
- Capital
- N'Djamena
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 21 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$21.47 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,022 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 55.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 27.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: N'Djamena.
Also ranks #1 in fertility rate · #2 in birth rate · #2 in maternal mortality ratio.
#8 Cambodia
Cambodia ranks #8 on this list with −5.22.
- Capital
- Phnom Penh
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 17.85 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$51.27 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$2,872 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 70.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 41.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Phnom Penh.
Also ranks #3 in time to start a business (days) · #5 in manufacturing value added share of gdp · #6 in labour force participation rate.
#9 Djibouti
Djibouti ranks #9 on this list with −4.84.
- Capital
- Djibouti
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 1.18 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$4.62 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,906 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 66.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 73% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in youth unemployment rate · #3 in unemployment rate · #4 in prevalence of wasting (under-5).
#10 Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic ranks #10 on this list with −4.57.
- 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.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Pupil-teacher ratio (primary) over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
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 (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.