Average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading in Japan

Japan: Average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading was 524.1 score in 2022. ▬ Flat

Latest (2022)
524.1 score
World rank
6th
of 57 countries
All-time high
550.72 score
in 2012
All-time low
508.98 score
in 2003
Years of data
8
2000–2022

Average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading in Japan, 2000–2022

02004006002000201120222000: 536.9 score2003: 509 score2006: 513.3 score2009: 539.9 score2012: 550.7 score2015: 522.7 score2018: 513.8 score2022: 524.1 score

Source: OECD (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in score.

Analysis

The most recent figure for average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading in Japan is 524.1 score, measured in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading in Japan peaked at 550.72 score in 2012 and was at its lowest, 508.98 score, in 2003.

That places Japan 6th out of 57 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

Average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading in Japan, year by year

Annual values for Average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading in Japan, 2000 to 2022.
Year score Change
2000 536.91 score —
2003 508.98 score -5.2%
2006 513.29 score +0.8%
2009 539.93 score +5.2%
2012 550.72 score +2.0%
2015 522.65 score -5.1%
2018 513.82 score -1.7%
2022 524.1 score +2.0%

Japan compared with similar countries

  • Japan's 524.1 score is above the median for high income countries, which is 491.02 score, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Japan's 524.1 score is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 513.86 score, 1.0× the median. (9 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 524.78 score 508.98 score 539.93 score 4
2010s 529.07 score 513.82 score 550.72 score 3
2020s 524.1 score 524.1 score 524.1 score 1

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 3 Taiwan 529.05 score compare
  2. 4 Ireland 525.41 score compare
  3. 5 Estonia 524.78 score compare
  4. 7 Canada 519.48 score compare
  5. 8 Macao 517.76 score compare
  6. 9 United States 514.64 score compare

See the full ranking of 57 places →

More reference data data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading in Japan?
Average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading in Japan was 524.1 score in 2022, according to OECD (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 550.72 score in 2012.
What is the lowest average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 508.98 score in 2003.
How does Japan rank for average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading?
Japan ranks 6th out of 57 countries with data for 2022.
Is average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Japan data come from?
The figures come from OECD (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading in Japan. Statizoid, drawing on OECD (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/pisa-mean-performance-on-the-reading-scale-by-sex/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Average performance of 15-year-old girls and boys in reading
Unit
score
Source
OECD (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
57 places, 411 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed

Assessed through the PISA reading scale, which measures how well someone can understand and use written information to learn new things and be a part of society.