Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Colombia

Colombia: Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age was 38.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
38.4%
World rank
46th
of 53 countries
All-time high
43.8%
in 2015
All-time low
30.3%
in 2006
Years of data
6
2006–2022

Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Colombia, 2006–2022

0102030402006201420222006: 30.3 %2009: 38.6 %2012: 36.9 %2015: 43.8 %2018: 38.5 %2022: 38.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Colombia is 38.4%, measured in 2022.

That represents a change of up 3.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Colombia peaked at 43.8% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 30.3%, in 2006.

Colombia ranks 46th of 53 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Colombia, year by year

Annual values for Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Colombia, 2006 to 2022.
Year % Change
2006 30.3%
2009 38.6% +27.5%
2012 36.9% -4.3%
2015 43.8% +18.6%
2018 38.5% -12.1%
2022 38.4% -0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 34.4% 30.3% 38.6% 2
2010s 39.7% 36.9% 43.8% 3
2020s 38.4% 38.4% 38.4% 1

Countries ranked near Colombia

  1. 43 Uruguay 41.2% compare
  2. 44 Malaysia 41.1% compare
  3. 45 Costa Rica 38.4% compare
  4. 47 Kazakhstan 36.1% compare
  5. 48 Argentina 35.8% compare
  6. 49 Thailand 31.1% compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More reference data data for Colombia

All data for Colombia →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Colombia?
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Colombia was 38.4% 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 Colombia?
The highest recorded value was 43.8% in 2015.
What is the lowest share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age recorded in Colombia?
The lowest recorded value was 30.3% in 2006.
How does Colombia rank for share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age?
Colombia ranks 46th 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 Colombia?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Colombia 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.

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Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Colombia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-children-reaching-sufficient-reading-comprehension-by-the-end-of-lower-secondary/colombia/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-children-reaching-sufficient-reading-comprehension-by-the-end-of-lower-secondary/colombia/">Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Colombia</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
53 places, 379 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed

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.