Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand

New Zealand: Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education was 79.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
79.3%
World rank
12th
of 59 countries
All-time high
86.3%
in 2000
All-time low
79.3%
in 2022
Years of data
8
2000–2022

Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand, 2000–2022

0204060802000201120222000: 86.3 %2003: 85.5 %2006: 85.5 %2009: 85.7 %2012: 83.7 %2015: 82.7 %2018: 81 %2022: 79.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

New Zealand recorded 79.3% for proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.

The figure is down 5.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand peaked at 86.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 79.3%, in 2022.

That places New Zealand 12th out of 59 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.

Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading, both sexes (%) in New Zealand, 2000 to 2022.
Year % Change
2000 86.3%
2003 85.5% -0.9%
2006 85.5% -0.0%
2009 85.7% +0.2%
2012 83.7% -2.2%
2015 82.7% -1.2%
2018 81.0% -2.0%
2022 79.3% -2.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 85.7% 85.5% 86.3% 4
2010s 82.5% 81.0% 83.7% 3
2020s 79.3% 79.3% 79.3% 1

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 9 Denmark 81.0% compare
  2. 10 United States of America 79.9% compare
  3. 11 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 79.9% compare
  4. 13 Australia 78.8% compare
  5. 14 Czechia 78.7% compare
  6. 15 Italy 78.6% compare

See the full ranking of 67 places →

More education data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand?
Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand was 79.3% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 86.3% in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 79.3% in 2022.
How does New Zealand rank for proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education?
New Zealand ranks 12th out of 59 countries with data for 2022.
Is proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-students-at-the-end-of-lower-secondary-education-achieving-at-least-a-30/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
67 places, 577 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release