Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Germany
Germany: Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age was 68.8% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Germany, 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 Germany stood at 68.8%. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is down 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Germany peaked at 78.9% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 68.8%, in 2022.
That places Germany 27th out of 53 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 71.2% | — |
| 2003 | 71.8% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 74.0% | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 75.5% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 78.9% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 77.1% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 73.0% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 68.8% | -5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 73.1% | 71.2% | 75.5% | 4 |
| 2010s | 76.3% | 73.0% | 78.9% | 3 |
| 2020s | 68.8% | 68.8% | 68.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Germany?
- Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Germany was 68.8% 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 78.9% in 2012.
- What is the lowest share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.8% in 2022.
- How does Germany rank for share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age?
- Germany ranks 27th 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 Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Germany 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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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.