Panama: Pupil-teacher ratio, primary

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2017, Panama's pupil-teacher ratio, primary rose 0.52 on 2016 (from 21.44 to 21.96).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1976 to 2016), the average change was −0.27 and a typical year strayed about 0.95 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 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 2.53 in 1980 and the biggest yearly fall was 3.21 in 1986. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2008 to 2017 the straight-line trend is downward, about 0.28 a year. A straight line explains 92% 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 2017, Panama had the 15th highest value of the 50 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 Panama in the 2017 ranking

• Kiribati — 12th of 50: 25.49
• Liberia — 13th of 50: 22.32
• Tajikistan — 14th of 50: 22.3
• Russian Federation — 16th of 50: 21.26
• Brazil — 17th of 50: 20.22
• Romania — 18th of 50: 19.33

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 39 values

Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 12.41 (2018)
• Bahamas, The — 19.45 (2018)
• Barbados — 13.99 (2018)
• Belize — 19.78 (2018)
• Brazil — 20.22 (2017)
• British Virgin Islands — 11.62 (2017)
• Cayman Islands — 15.75 (2018)
• Chile — 17.79 (2017)
• Colombia — 23.3 (2018)
• Costa Rica — 12.2 (2018)
• Cuba — 9.16 (2018)

More education data for Panama

• 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 — 451,308 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 96.94% (2024)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 26.97% (2020)
• School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) — 53.7% (2023)
• School enrollment, primary, private (% of total primary) — 12.61% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross)

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 Panama's pupil-teacher ratio, primary?

21.96 in 2017, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is down 18.87% from 27.07 in 1970 (0.44% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 28.39 in 1976 and the lowest 21.44 in 2016.

How does Panama rank?

15th highest of 50 economies with data for 2017.

Is the latest change in pupil-teacher ratio, primary unusual for Panama?

In 2017, Panama's pupil-teacher ratio, primary rose 0.52 on 2016 (from 21.44 to 21.96). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1976 to 2016), the average change was −0.27 and a typical year strayed about 0.95 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 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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