PISA: Distribution of Reading Scores: 5th Percentile Score in United States of America

United States of America: PISA: Distribution of Reading Scores: 5th Percentile Score was 321.3% in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
321.3%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
20th
of 56 countries
All-time high
342.3%
in 2012
All-time low
319.0%
in 2003
Years of data
6
2000–2018

PISA: Distribution of Reading Scores: 5th Percentile Score in United States of America, 2000–2018

01002003002000200920182000: 3202003: 3192009: 3392012: 342.32015: 325.62018: 321.3

Source: OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Analysis

In 2018, pisa: distribution of reading scores: 5th percentile score in United States of America stood at 321.3%.

The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pisa: distribution of reading scores: 5th percentile score in United States of America peaked at 342.3% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 319.0%, in 2003.

United States of America ranks 20th of 56 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

PISA: Distribution of Reading Scores: 5th Percentile Score in United States of America, year by year

Annual values for PISA: Distribution of Reading Scores: 5th Percentile Score in United States of America, 2000 to 2018.
Year Value Change
2000 320.0%
2003 319.0% -0.3%
2009 339.0% +6.3%
2012 342.3% +1.0%
2015 325.6% -4.9%
2018 321.3% -1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 326.0% 319.0% 339.0% 3
2010s 329.7% 321.3% 342.3% 3

Countries ranked near United States of America

  1. 17 Latvia 327.9% compare
  2. 18 Portugal 327.2% compare
  3. 19 New Zealand 322.4% compare
  4. 21 Türkiye 321.0% compare
  5. 22 Russian Federation 320.5% compare
  6. 23 France 319.3% compare

See the full ranking of 56 places →

More reference data data for United States of America

All data for United States of America →

Frequently asked questions

What is pisa: distribution of reading scores: 5th percentile score in United States of America?
Pisa: distribution of reading scores: 5th percentile score in United States of America was 321.3% in 2018, according to OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
What is the highest pisa: distribution of reading scores: 5th percentile score recorded in United States of America?
The highest recorded value was 342.3% in 2012.
What is the lowest pisa: distribution of reading scores: 5th percentile score recorded in United States of America?
The lowest recorded value was 319.0% in 2003.
How does United States of America rank for pisa: distribution of reading scores: 5th percentile score?
United States of America ranks 20th out of 56 countries with data for 2018.
Is pisa: distribution of reading scores: 5th percentile score rising or falling in United States of America?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this United States of America data come from?
The figures come from OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), published as part of PISA: Distribution of Reading Scores: 5th Percentile Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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PISA: Distribution of Reading Scores: 5th Percentile Score in United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/pisa-distribution-of-reading-scores-5th-percentile-score/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
PISA: Distribution of Reading Scores: 5th Percentile Score
Source
OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
56 places, 353 data points, 2000–2018
Last refreshed

The 5th percentile score is the score below which 5 percent of students scored. Data reflects country performance in the stated year according to PISA reports, but may not be comparable across years or countries. Consult the PISA website for more detailed information: http://www.oecd.org/pisa/