Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level was 75.6% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United Kingdom, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United Kingdom is 75.6%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United Kingdom peaked at 88.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 75.6%, in 2022.
That places United Kingdom 10th out of 51 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 88.1% | — |
| 2003 | 81.9% | -7.0% |
| 2006 | 80.0% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 79.5% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 77.9% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 77.9% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 80.6% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 75.6% | -6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 82.4% | 79.5% | 88.1% | 4 |
| 2010s | 78.8% | 77.9% | 80.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 75.6% | 75.6% | 75.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.37 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.0164 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0346 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.49 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.0369 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0364 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.49 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 281,128 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -0.4388 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United Kingdom?
- Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United Kingdom was 75.6% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 88.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.6% in 2022.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level?
- United Kingdom ranks 10th out of 51 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children who achieve minimum math proficiency by the end of lower secondary education. This data accounts for school completion rates to estimate skills for all children, not just those in school.