Countries With the Fastest Growth 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 rose are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
United Arab Emirates rose the most: by 7.49, from 17 pupils per teacher to 24.5 pupils per teacher in the five years to 2016. Tanzania is second (+7.19), followed by Bhutan (+5.99). 64 countries rose over that period; the median change among them was +1.26.
- #1
- United Arab Emirates · +7.49
- Median
- +1.26
- Coverage
- 64 countries
- Data year
- 2018
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (pupils per teacher) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Arab Emirates | 17 | 24.5 | +7.49 |
| 2 | Tanzania | 43.4 | 50.6 | +7.19 |
| 3 | Bhutan | 28.7 | 34.7 | +5.99 |
| 4 | Uzbekistan | 15.6 | 21.5 | +5.86 |
| 5 | Vanuatu | 21.7 | 26.6 | +4.9 |
| 6 | Solomon Islands | 20.6 | 25.4 | +4.81 |
| 7 | Angola | 45.6 | 50 | +4.44 |
| 8 | Senegal | 32.2 | 36.3 | +4.07 |
| 9 | Belarus | 15.4 | 19.2 | +3.87 |
| 10 | Azerbaijan | 12.1 | 15.4 | +3.28 |
| 11 | Saudi Arabia | 10.5 | 13.8 | +3.27 |
| 12 | Jamaica | 21.7 | 24.8 | +3.12 |
| 13 | Afghanistan | 45.7 | 48.8 | +3.08 |
| 14 | Guinea | 44.1 | 47.1 | +3.07 |
| 15 | Bermuda | 7.36 | 10.4 | +3.06 |
| 16 | Mongolia | 27.6 | 30.4 | +2.8 |
| 17 | Cayman Islands | 13 | 15.7 | +2.71 |
| 18 | Sweden | 9.65 | 12.2 | +2.59 |
| 19 | São Tomé and Principe | 28.7 | 31.2 | +2.51 |
| 20 | Qatar | 10 | 12.2 | +2.16 |
| 21 | Central African Republic | 81.3 | 83.4 | +2.1 |
| 22 | Bahamas, The | 17.5 | 19.4 | +1.97 |
| 23 | Romania | 17.6 | 19.3 | +1.78 |
| 24 | Russian Federation | 19.6 | 21.3 | +1.67 |
| 25 | Moldova | 16.3 | 17.9 | +1.59 |
| 26 | Grenada | 14.8 | 16.4 | +1.55 |
| 27 | Pakistan | 42.5 | 44.1 | +1.53 |
| 28 | Malta | 11.5 | 12.9 | +1.49 |
| 29 | Puerto Rico (US) | 12.1 | 13.5 | +1.48 |
| 30 | Viet Nam | 18.9 | 20.3 | +1.39 |
| 31 | Bolivia | 16.4 | 17.8 | +1.35 |
| 32 | Seychelles | 13.1 | 14.5 | +1.35 |
| 33 | Andorra | 9.33 | 10.5 | +1.17 |
| 34 | Lithuania | 12.4 | 13.5 | +1.09 |
| 35 | Algeria | 23.3 | 24.3 | +1.06 |
| 36 | Ecuador | 23.3 | 24.3 | +0.964 |
| 37 | Indonesia | 16.1 | 17 | +0.941 |
| 38 | West Bank and Gaza | 23.6 | 24.5 | +0.859 |
| 39 | South Africa | 29.5 | 30.3 | +0.822 |
| 40 | Côte d'Ivoire | 41 | 41.8 | +0.821 |
| 41 | Morocco | 26 | 26.8 | +0.817 |
| 42 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 13.1 | 13.9 | +0.816 |
| 43 | Portugal | 11.7 | 12.4 | +0.619 |
| 44 | Slovak Republic | 14.9 | 15.5 | +0.599 |
| 45 | Germany | 11.7 | 12.3 | +0.589 |
| 46 | Spain | 12.6 | 13.1 | +0.531 |
| 47 | Latvia | 11 | 11.5 | +0.522 |
| 48 | Czechia | 18.5 | 18.9 | +0.457 |
| 49 | Kyrgyz Republic | 24.5 | 25 | +0.442 |
| 50 | Kazakhstan | 16.9 | 17.2 | +0.358 |
| 51 | Liechtenstein | 7.44 | 7.8 | +0.358 |
| 52 | Mozambique | 54.9 | 55.3 | +0.349 |
| 53 | New Zealand | 14.6 | 14.9 | +0.329 |
| 54 | Netherlands | 11.5 | 11.8 | +0.304 |
| 55 | Kuwait | 8.61 | 8.88 | +0.276 |
| 56 | Comoros | 27.8 | 28.1 | +0.25 |
| 57 | Hungary | 10.5 | 10.8 | +0.22 |
| 58 | Greece | 9.2 | 9.38 | +0.183 |
| 59 | Finland | 13.6 | 13.7 | +0.108 |
| 60 | Cuba | 9.06 | 9.16 | +0.099 |
| 61 | Belgium | 11.2 | 11.3 | +0.074 |
| 62 | Bahrain | 11.9 | 11.9 | +0.072 |
| 63 | Madagascar | 39.8 | 39.8 | +0.046 |
| 64 | Gambia, The | 36.1 | 36.1 | +0.006 |
About the top 10
#1 United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates ranks #1 on this list with +7.49.
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 11.51 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$552.32 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$50,274 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 83.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 86% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah.
Also ranks #1 in population growth rate · #1 in internet users share · #2 in male population share.
#2 Tanzania
Tanzania ranks #2 on this list with +7.19.
- Capital
- Dodoma
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 70.55 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$90.14 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,319 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 36.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Dar es Salaam.
Also ranks #4 in labour force participation rate · #4 in female labour force participation · #5 in livestock production index.
#3 Bhutan
Bhutan ranks #3 on this list with +5.99.
- Capital
- Thimphu
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 796,680 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.58 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,493 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 43.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in gross capital formation rate · #4 in water resources per capita · #4 in protected terrestrial area share.
#4 Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan ranks #4 on this list with +5.86.
- Capital
- Tashkent
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 37.05 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$147.04 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,968 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 51% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tashkent.
Also ranks #2 in literacy rate · #4 in deposit interest rate · #5 in bank branches per 100,000 adults.
#5 Vanuatu
Vanuatu ranks #5 on this list with +4.9.
- Capital
- Port Vila
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 335,170 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.35 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,039 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 22.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #6 in school enrolment (secondary) · #6 in completion rate (primary) · #9 in rural population share.
#6 Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands ranks #6 on this list with +4.81.
- Capital
- Honiara
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 838,650 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.75 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$2,086 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 70.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 31.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in forest rents share of gdp · #2 in female labour force participation · #3 in labour force participation rate.
#7 Angola
Angola ranks #7 on this list with +4.44.
- Capital
- Luanda
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 39.04 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$122.17 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,130 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 64.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 71.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Luanda, Quilamba Quiaxi.
Also ranks #4 in gini index · #4 in oil rents share of gdp · #5 in income share of richest 10%.
#8 Senegal
Senegal ranks #8 on this list with +4.07.
- Capital
- Dakar
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 18.93 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$37.01 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,955 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 68.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 55.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Dakar.
Also ranks #1 in gender parity index (school enrolment) · #3 in crop production index · #8 in debt service share of exports.
#9 Belarus
Belarus ranks #9 on this list with +3.87.
- 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.
#10 Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan ranks #10 on this list with +3.28.
- Capital
- Baku
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 10.25 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$75.94 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,411 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 58.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Baku.
Also ranks #9 in literacy rate · #9 in electricity access rate · #9 in access to electricity (rural).
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 rose 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.