Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex was 19.2% in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
19.2%
Change on year
down 12.3%
World rank
41st
of 49 countries
All-time high
21.9%
in 2015
All-time low
19.2%
in 2018
Years of data
5
2006–2018

Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom, 2006–2018

051015202006201220182006: 19.9 Percentage2009: 20.2 Percentage2012: 21.8 Percentage2015: 21.9 Percentage2018: 19.2 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom is 19.2%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.3% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom peaked at 21.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 19.2%, in 2018.

United Kingdom ranks 41st of 49 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom, 2006 to 2018.
Year Percentage Change
2006 19.9%
2009 20.2% +1.5%
2012 21.8% +7.9%
2015 21.9% +0.5%
2018 19.2% -12.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 20.0% 19.9% 20.2% 2
2010s 21.0% 19.2% 21.9% 3

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 38 Russian Federation 21.6% compare
  2. 38 Russia 21.6% compare
  3. 40 Denmark 20.4% compare
  4. 41 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 19.2% compare
  5. 43 Ireland 19.0% compare
  6. 44 Switzerland 16.8% compare

See the full ranking of 50 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom?
Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom was 19.2% in 2018, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 21.9% in 2015.
What is the lowest low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 19.2% in 2018.
How does United Kingdom rank for low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex?
United Kingdom ranks 41st out of 49 countries with data for 2018.
Is low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/low-achieving-15-year-olds-in-reading-mathematics-or-science-by-sex/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
50 places, 323 data points, 2003–2022
Last refreshed