Macao SAR, China: Pupil-teacher ratio, primary

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2018, Macao SAR, China's pupil-teacher ratio, primary fell 0.01 on 2017 (from 13.51 to 13.5).

Across the 24 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2017), the average change was −0.69 and a typical year strayed about 2.5 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above 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 6.56 in 1978 and the biggest yearly fall was 6.91 in 1977. 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 the straight-line trend is downward, about 0.35 a year. A straight line explains 68% of the movement over 10 observed years.

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

How it compares

In 2018, Macao SAR, China had the 69th highest value of the 83 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 Macao SAR, China in the 2018 ranking

• Serbia — 66th of 83: 14.29
• Barbados — 67th of 83: 13.99
• Saudi Arabia — 68th of 83: 13.81
• Suriname — 70th of 83: 13.39
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 71st of 83: 13.35
• Ukraine — 72nd of 83: 12.98

What this measures

Primary school pupil-teacher ratio is the average number of pupils per teacher in primary 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 28 values

Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in nearby economies

• Brunei Darussalam — 9.9 (2018)
• Cambodia — 41.7 (2018)
• China — 16.43 (2018)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 13.35 (2018)
• Indonesia — 17.03 (2018)
• Kiribati — 25.49 (2017)
• Korea, Rep. — 16.29 (2017)
• Lao PDR — 22.34 (2018)
• Malaysia — 11.66 (2017)
• Mongolia — 30.38 (2018)
• Myanmar — 24.36 (2018)

More education data for Macao SAR, China

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 12 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 38,349 (2024)
• Secondary education, pupils — 31,617 (2024)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 86.41% (2021)
• Secondary education, vocational pupils — 936 (2018)
• Primary education, teachers — 2,896 (2024)
• Secondary education, teachers

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Macao SAR, China's pupil-teacher ratio, primary?

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

How has it changed since 1971?

It is down 52.26% from 28.28 in 1971 (1.56% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 32.42 in 1975 and the lowest 13.5 in 2018.

How does Macao SAR, China rank?

69th highest of 83 economies with data for 2018.

Is the latest change in pupil-teacher ratio, primary unusual for Macao SAR, China?

In 2018, Macao SAR, China's pupil-teacher ratio, primary fell 0.01 on 2017 (from 13.51 to 13.5). Across the 24 yearly changes before that (1972 to 2017), the average change was −0.69 and a typical year strayed about 2.5 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above 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.PRM.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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