Education in Otaru, Japan: official figures
Otaru had 17 primary schools with 3,550 pupils and 330 full-time teachers in May 2024.
How big are primary school classes in Otaru?
Primary schools in Otaru had 10.8 pupils per full-time teacher in 2024, 5th lowest of 262 cities (more pupils per teacher means larger classes) and below the national figure of 13.97 (2024, Statistics Bureau).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many middle schools are there in Otaru?
Otaru had 13 lower secondary schools with 2,077 students and 227 full-time teachers in May 2024, or 9.1 students per teacher (national: 12.70, 2024).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many kindergartens are there in Otaru?
Otaru had 11 kindergartens enrolling 452 children in May 2024.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many high schools are there in Otaru?
Otaru had 7 upper secondary (high) schools with 2,665 students in May 2024.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many nurseries are there in Otaru?
Otaru had 21 nursery centres for children needing daytime care in 2023, 22.9 per 10,000 children under 15 (2020 census), 19th highest of 262 cities; it also had 30 child welfare facilities.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many libraries are there in Otaru?
Otaru had 1 public libraries and 0 community centres (kominkan) in 2021, 0.9 libraries per 100,000 residents, 52nd lowest of 262 cities.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many students are there in Otaru?
About 8,744 children and young people were enrolled in kindergartens, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools in Otaru in May 2024, 7.9 per 100 residents.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow Otaru compares with other cities in Japan
Pupils per full-time primary school teacher (2024)
Otaru ranks 258 of 262, highest first. More pupils per teacher means larger classes.
| Rank | City | Pupils per full-time primary school teacher |
|---|---|---|
| 255 | Matsusaka | 11.2 |
| 256 | Saijo | 11.0 |
| 257 | Karatsu | 10.8 |
| 258 | Otaru | 10.8 |
| 259 | Joetsu | 10.7 |
| 260 | Ishinomaki | 10.6 |
| 261 | Kitami | 9.9 |
Students per full-time lower secondary teacher (2024)
Otaru ranks 262 of 262, highest first.
| Rank | City | Students per full-time lower secondary teacher |
|---|---|---|
| 256 | Yatsushiro | 10.0 |
| 257 | Hirosaki | 9.9 |
| 258 | Nobeoka | 9.8 |
| 259 | Karatsu | 9.6 |
| 260 | Ishinomaki | 9.5 |
| 261 | Kitami | 9.2 |
| 262 | Otaru | 9.1 |
Nursery centres per 10,000 children under 15 (2023)
Otaru ranks 19 of 262, highest first.
| Rank | City | Nursery centres per 10,000 children under 15 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Okinawa | 23.5 |
| 17 | Sakata | 23.3 |
| 18 | Kochi | 23.1 |
| 19 | Otaru | 22.9 |
| 20 | Hatsukaichi | 22.8 |
| 21 | Joetsu | 22.7 |
| 22 | Ome | 22.5 |
More on Otaru: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Japan
Sources
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Statistical Observations of Municipalities 2026 (social and demographic statistics, city, ward, town and village data), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2cb3d8c51aa1…)
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Statistical Observations of Prefectures 2026 (national figures, "All Japan" row), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b69774a5f40c…)
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