Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Sweden
Sweden: Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education was 75.7% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Sweden, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 75.7% for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Sweden peaked at 87.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 75.7%, in 2022.
Sweden ranks 22nd 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 87.5% | — |
| 2003 | 86.7% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 84.7% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 82.6% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 77.3% | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 81.6% | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 81.6% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 75.7% | -7.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 85.4% | 82.6% | 87.5% | 4 |
| 2010s | 80.2% | 77.3% | 81.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 75.7% | 75.7% | 75.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More education data for Sweden
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 433,407 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -0.497 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.041 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 426,440 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0403 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 987,895 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.0594 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 71,551 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -0.43 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Sweden?
- Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Sweden was 75.7% 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 87.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.7% in 2022.
- How does Sweden rank for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education?
- Sweden ranks 22nd 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 Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden 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.