Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in France
France: Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education was 73.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in France, 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 France stood at 73.1%. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in France peaked at 84.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 73.1%, in 2022.
France ranks 31st of 59 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 84.8% | — |
| 2003 | 82.5% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 78.3% | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 80.2% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 81.1% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 78.5% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 79.1% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 73.1% | -7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 81.5% | 78.3% | 84.8% | 4 |
| 2010s | 79.6% | 78.5% | 81.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 73.1% | 73.1% | 73.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near France
More education data for France
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.01 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0294 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.11 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0308 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.27 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.2218 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 229,471 (2013)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -1.63 % change on previous year (2013)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in France?
- Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in France was 73.1% 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 84.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.1% in 2022.
- How does France rank for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education?
- France ranks 31st 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 France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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.