Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Italy
Italy: Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education was 78.6% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Italy, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Italy recorded 78.6% for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Italy peaked at 81.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 73.6%, in 2006.
That places Italy 15th 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 81.0% | — |
| 2003 | 76.1% | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 73.6% | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 79.0% | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 80.5% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 79.0% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 76.7% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 78.6% | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 77.4% | 73.6% | 81.0% | 4 |
| 2010s | 78.8% | 76.7% | 80.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 78.6% | 78.6% | 78.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More education data for Italy
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0445 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 2.63 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.167 % 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 0.0445 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.27 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Italy?
- Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Italy was 78.6% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 81.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.6% in 2006.
- How does Italy rank for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education?
- Italy ranks 15th 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 Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Italy 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.