Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 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
31st
of 36 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2006–2018

051015202006201220182006: 19.92009: 20.22012: 21.82015: 21.92018: 19.2

Source: Eurostat.

Analysis

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

The figure 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 21.9 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 19.2, in 2018.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 31st out of 36 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2006 to 2018.
Year Value 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 20.05 19.9 20.2 2
2010s 20.97 19.2 21.9 3

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 28 Latvia 22.2 compare
  2. 29 Russian Federation 21.6 compare
  3. 30 Denmark 20.4 compare
  4. 32 Ireland 19 compare
  5. 33 Switzerland 16.8 compare
  6. 34 Estonia 15 compare
  7. 34 Republic of Korea 15 compare

See the full ranking of 38 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 19.2 in 2018.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 31st out of 36 countries with data for 2018.
Is low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/low-achieving-15-year-olds-in-reading-mathematics-or-science-by-sex/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Low achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics or science by sex
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
38 places, 247 data points, 2003–2022
Last refreshed