Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Canada
Canada: Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education was 81.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Canada, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Canada stood at 81.8%. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Canada peaked at 90.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 81.8%, in 2022.
That places Canada 8th out of 59 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 90.5% | — |
| 2003 | 90.5% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 89.0% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 89.7% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 89.1% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 89.3% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 86.2% | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 81.8% | -5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 89.9% | 89.0% | 90.5% | 4 |
| 2010s | 88.2% | 86.2% | 89.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 81.8% | 81.8% | 81.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 5 Estonia 86.2% compare
- 6 Republic of Korea 85.3% compare
- 7 Hong Kong 82.5% compare
- 9 Denmark 81.0% compare
- 10 United States of America 79.9% compare
- 11 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 79.9% compare
More education data for Canada
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.70 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.517 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 141,045 (2000)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.231 % change on previous year (2000)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.31 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.39 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.0807 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 564,540 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.08 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Canada?
- Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Canada was 81.8% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 90.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.8% in 2022.
- How does Canada rank for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education?
- Canada ranks 8th out of 59 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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 students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of students who achieve minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education. This data includes only students enrolled in school.