Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Canada
Canada: Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age was 81.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Canada, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Canada stood at 81.1%. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Canada peaked at 88.9% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 81.1%, in 2022.
That places Canada 4th out of 53 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 88.8% | — |
| 2003 | 88.9% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 87.6% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 88.4% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 88.0% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 88.3% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 85.4% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 81.1% | -5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 88.4% | 87.6% | 88.9% | 4 |
| 2010s | 87.2% | 85.4% | 88.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 81.1% | 81.1% | 81.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 1 Ireland 87.4% compare
- 2 Republic of Korea 85.3% compare
- 3 Estonia 83.5% compare
- 5 Denmark 80.8% compare
- 6 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 79.7% compare
- 7 United States 79.0% compare
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Canada?
- Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Canada was 81.1% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 88.9% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.1% in 2022.
- How does Canada rank for share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age?
- Canada ranks 4th out of 53 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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 children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of children who achieve minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education. This data accounts for school completion rates to estimate skills for all children, not just those in school.