Proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary in United States of America

United States of America: Proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary was 79.0% in 2022. ▬ Flat

Latest (2022)
79.0%
World rank
7th
of 53 countries
All-time high
82.1%
in 2012
All-time low
78.1%
in 2003
Years of data
7
2000–2022

Proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary in United States of America, 2000–2022

0204060802000201120222000: 79.1 %2003: 78.1 %2009: 80.9 %2012: 82.1 %2015: 80 %2018: 79.7 %2022: 79 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2022, proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary in United States of America stood at 79.0%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary in United States of America peaked at 82.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 78.1%, in 2003.

That places United States of America 7th out of 53 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.

Proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary in United States of America, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary education prepared for the future in reading, both sexes (%) in United States of America, 2000 to 2022.
Year % Change
2000 79.1%
2003 78.1% -1.2%
2009 80.9% +3.5%
2012 82.1% +1.5%
2015 80.0% -2.6%
2018 79.7% -0.3%
2022 79.0% -0.9%

United States of America compared with similar countries

  • United States of America's 79.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 73.4%, 1.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 79.4% 78.1% 80.9% 3
2010s 80.6% 79.7% 82.1% 3
2020s 79.0% 79.0% 79.0% 1

Countries ranked near United States of America

  1. 4 Canada 81.1% compare
  2. 5 Denmark 80.8% compare
  3. 6 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 79.7% compare
  4. 8 Finland 78.3% compare
  5. 9 Italy 77.9% compare
  6. 10 Australia 77.7% compare

See the full ranking of 61 places →

More education data for United States of America

All data for United States of America →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary in United States of America?
Proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary in United States of America was 79.0% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary recorded in United States of America?
The highest recorded value was 82.1% in 2012.
What is the lowest proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary recorded in United States of America?
The lowest recorded value was 78.1% in 2003.
How does United States of America rank for proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary?
United States of America ranks 7th out of 53 countries with data for 2022.
Is proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary rising or falling in United States of America?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this United States of America data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary education prepared for the future in reading, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary in United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-children-young-people-at-the-age-of-lower-secondary-education-prepared-for-2/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of children/young people at the age of lower secondary education prepared for the future in reading, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
61 places, 539 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release