The number of pupils enrolled in primary education in Cyprus reached 60,596 in 2024, while the ratio of students to teachers improved to 11.5 pupils per teacher, according to data published by Eurostat.
The figure remains below the EU average of 13.3 pupils per teacher and marks an improvement from 13.6 pupils per teacher in 2014, indicating a reduction in class pressure over the past decade.
Cyprus below EU average
Eurostat data show that Cyprus recorded a lower student-to-teacher ratio than the European Union average in 2024.
Among EU member states, only Greece, with 7.4 pupils per teacher, and Luxembourg, with 8.2, registered lower ratios than Cyprus.
The statistics are used as an indicator of the level of available educational resources and can provide insight into learning conditions across education systems.
Primary school enrolment figures
In terms of overall pupil numbers, Cyprus recorded the third-lowest primary education population in the EU.
Only Malta, with 27,537 pupils, and Luxembourg, with 43,020 pupils, reported smaller primary school populations than Cyprus.
Eurostat noted that differences in pupil numbers are influenced by factors including population size, demographic structure and the age at which children begin primary and compulsory education.
EU-wide trends
Across the European Union, 23.2 million pupils were enrolled in primary education in 2024.
This represented a decrease of 0.2%, or 35,153 pupils, compared with 2023.
However, compared with 2014, the number of primary school pupils across the EU increased by 2.9%, equivalent to 659,086 additional pupils.
Changes across member states
France recorded the largest primary education population in 2024 with 4.1 million pupils, followed by Germany with 3.3 million, Spain with 2.8 million and Italy with 2.6 million.
Compared with 2014, primary school enrolment increased in 15 EU countries and declined in 11.
The largest increase was recorded in Luxembourg, where pupil numbers rose by 21.4%, followed by Slovenia with 18.2%. The largest decline was reported in Poland, where enrolment fell by 25.7%.
Student-to-teacher ratios decline across EU
The EU average fell from 14.2 pupils per teacher in 2014 to 13.3 in 2024.
The most significant reductions were recorded in Bulgaria, where the ratio fell from 17.8 to 10.4 pupils per teacher, and Slovenia, where it declined from 15.9 to 10.8.
Among countries with higher ratios, Romania recorded 18.2 pupils per teacher, while Czechia and France each reported 17.9.
The data were published by Eurostat to mark International Literacy Day, highlighting the role of primary education in developing basic reading, writing and numeracy skills.
Source: CNA
