Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand
New Zealand: Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education was 79.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand is 79.3%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand peaked at 86.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 79.3%, in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 12th of 59 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 86.3% | — |
| 2003 | 85.5% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 85.5% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 85.7% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 83.7% | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 82.7% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 81.0% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 79.3% | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 85.7% | 85.5% | 86.3% | 4 |
| 2010s | 82.5% | 81.0% | 83.7% | 3 |
| 2020s | 79.3% | 79.3% | 79.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More education data for New Zealand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36,426 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,020 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56,552 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand?
- Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in New Zealand was 79.3% 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 86.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.3% in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education?
- New Zealand ranks 12th 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 New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.