Colombia: Pupil-teacher ratio, secondary

Key figures

Over five years it is up 1.62% from 25.5 in 2013 (0.32% a year on average, compounded). Since 1970 it is up 50.94% from 17.17 in 1970 (0.86% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 6 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2018, Colombia's pupil-teacher ratio, secondary fell 0.1 on 2017 (from 26.01 to 25.91).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1977 to 2017), the average change was +0.02 and a typical year strayed about 0.84 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 1.58 in 2015 and the biggest yearly fall was 2.13 in 2007. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2009 to 2018 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 6% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2018, Colombia had the 13th highest value of the 60 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Colombia in the 2018 ranking

• Timor-Leste — 10th of 60: 26.55
• Thailand — 11th of 60: 25.95
• Mauritania — 12th of 60: 25.92
• Burkina Faso — 14th of 60: 23.12
• Tanzania — 15th of 60: 20.86
• Ecuador — 16th of 60: 20.62

What this measures

Secondary school pupil-teacher ratio is the average number of pupils per teacher in secondary school.

Limitations: The comparability of pupil-teacher ratios across countries is affected by the definition of teachers and by differences in class size by grade and in the number of hours taught, as well as the different practices countries employ such as part-time teachers, school shifts, and multi-grade classes. Moreover, the underlying enrollment levels are subject to a variety of reporting errors.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 43 values

Pupil-teacher ratio, secondary in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 9.3 (2018)
• Bahamas, The — 12.48 (2018)
• Barbados — 17.94 (2018)
• Belize — 16.72 (2018)
• Brazil — 16.72 (2017)
• British Virgin Islands — 8.71 (2017)
• Cayman Islands — 10.97 (2018)
• Chile — 18.37 (2017)
• Costa Rica — 12.43 (2018)
• Cuba — 9.63 (2018)
• Dominica — 10.69 (2015)

More education data for Colombia

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 5 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 11 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 4.14 million (2022)
• Primary education, teachers — 180,781 (2022)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.97 (2020)
• Secondary education, pupils — 4.85 million (2022)
• Primary education, pupils (% female) — 48.13% (2018)
• Pupil-teacher ratio, primary — 23.3 (2018)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Colombia's pupil-teacher ratio, secondary?

25.91 in 2018, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 50.94% from 17.17 in 1970 (0.86% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 27.37 in 2006 and the lowest 17.17 in 1970.

How does Colombia rank?

13th highest of 60 economies with data for 2018.

Is the latest change in pupil-teacher ratio, secondary unusual for Colombia?

In 2018, Colombia's pupil-teacher ratio, secondary fell 0.1 on 2017 (from 26.01 to 25.91). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1977 to 2017), the average change was +0.02 and a typical year strayed about 0.84 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.SEC.ENRL.TC.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://uis.unesco.org/bdds, publisher: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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