Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education was 55.07 headcount basis in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
55.07 headcount basis
Change on year
down 0.3%
Rank
1st
of 1 groups
All-time high
61.9 headcount basis
in 2007
All-time low
49.75 headcount basis
in 2000
Years of data
19
2000–2018

Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2018

02040602000200920182000: 49.7 headcount basis2001: 51.4 headcount basis2002: 52.1 headcount basis2003: 53.6 headcount basis2004: 58.3 headcount basis2005: 58.9 headcount basis2006: 58.9 headcount basis2007: 61.9 headcount basis2008: 60.5 headcount basis2009: 58.9 headcount basis2010: 58.4 headcount basis2011: 60.4 headcount basis2012: 59.9 headcount basis2013: 59.5 headcount basis2014: 59.2 headcount basis2015: 57.9 headcount basis2016: 57.5 headcount basis2017: 55.2 headcount basis2018: 55.1 headcount basis

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in headcount basis.

Analysis

The most recent figure for pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sub-Saharan Africa is 55.07 headcount basis, measured in 2018.

That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 61.9 headcount basis in 2007 and was at its lowest, 49.75 headcount basis, in 2000.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 56.42 headcount basis 49.75 headcount basis 61.9 headcount basis 10
2010s 58.1 headcount basis 55.07 headcount basis 60.35 headcount basis 9

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 1 Madagascar 240.39 headcount basis compare
  2. 2 Sao Tome and Principe 113.68 headcount basis compare
  3. 3 Belize 108.36 headcount basis compare
  4. 4 Chad 96.07 headcount basis compare

See the full ranking of 138 places →

More reference data data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sub-Saharan Africa was 55.07 headcount basis in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 61.9 headcount basis in 2007.
What is the lowest pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 49.75 headcount basis in 2000.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 1st out of 1 groups with data for 2018.
Is pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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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Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 19 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/pupil-trained-teacher-ratio-in-primary-education-headcount-basis/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Pupil-trained teacher ratio in primary education (headcount basis)
Unit
headcount basis
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
138 places, 1,748 data points, 1997–2020
Last refreshed

Average number of pupils per trained teacher at a given level of education, based on headcounts of both pupils and teachers. Divide the total number of pupils enrolled at the specified level of education by the number of trained teachers at the same level. A trained teacher is defined as a teacher who has fulfilled at least the minimum organized teacher-training requirements (pre-service or in-service) to teach a specific level of education according to the relevant national policy or law. These requirements usually include pedagogical knowledge (broad principles and strategies of classroom management and organization that transcend the subject matter being taught - typically approaches, methods and techniques of teaching), and professional knowledge (knowledge of statutory instruments and other legal frameworks that govern the teaching profession). Some programmes may also cover content knowledge (knowledge of the curriculum and the subject matter to be taught and the use of relevant materials). In computing and interpreting this indicator, one should take into account the existence of part-time teaching, school-shifts, multi-grade classes and other practices that may affect the precision and meaningfulness of pupil-teacher ratios. When feasible, the number of part-time teachers is converted to ‘full-time equivalent’ teachers; a double-shift teacher is counted twice, etc. Teachers are defined as persons whose professional activity involves the transmitting of knowledge, attitudes and skills that are stipulated in a formal curriculum programme to students enrolled in a formal educational institution.