Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Iceland
Iceland: Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age was 59.7% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Iceland, 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 Iceland stood at 59.7%. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is down 23.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Iceland peaked at 84.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 59.7%, in 2022.
Iceland ranks 35th of 53 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 84.5% | — |
| 2003 | 80.5% | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 78.6% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 82.2% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 78.1% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 77.0% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 72.8% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 59.7% | -18.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 81.4% | 78.6% | 84.5% | 4 |
| 2010s | 76.0% | 72.8% | 78.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 59.7% | 59.7% | 59.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More reference data data for Iceland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0288 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0708 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0964 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.062 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2576 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.7664 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0005 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Iceland?
- Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Iceland was 59.7% 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 84.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.7% in 2022.
- How does Iceland rank for share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age?
- Iceland ranks 35th 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 Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland 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.