Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Iceland
Iceland: Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education was 60.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Iceland, 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 students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Iceland is 60.3%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Iceland peaked at 85.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 60.3%, in 2022.
Iceland ranks 41st 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 Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 85.5% | — |
| 2003 | 81.5% | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 79.5% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 83.2% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 79.0% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 77.9% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 73.6% | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 60.3% | -18.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 82.4% | 79.5% | 85.5% | 4 |
| 2010s | 76.9% | 73.6% | 79.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 60.3% | 60.3% | 60.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More education data for Iceland
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 15,815 (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.06 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.041 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 16,499 (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0428 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37,056 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3,568 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % 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 Iceland?
- Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Iceland was 60.3% 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 85.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.3% in 2022.
- How does Iceland rank for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education?
- Iceland ranks 41st 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 Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland 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.