Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United States
United States: Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level was 65.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United States, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States recorded 65.4% for share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United States peaked at 75.2% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 65.4%, in 2022.
United States ranks 24th of 51 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 74.1% | — |
| 2003 | 72.0% | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 70.2% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 75.2% | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 73.0% | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 69.7% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 72.0% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 65.4% | -9.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 72.9% | 70.2% | 75.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 71.6% | 69.7% | 73.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 65.4% | 65.4% | 65.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More education data for United States
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 11.56 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United States?
- Share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level in United States was 65.4% 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 75.2% in 2009.
- What is the lowest share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.4% in 2022.
- How does United States rank for share of children achieving minimum proficiency in reading and math at each education level?
- United States ranks 24th 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 States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.