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

Italy: Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age was 77.9% in 2022. ▬ Flat

Latest (2022)
77.9%
World rank
9th
of 53 countries
All-time high
79.1%
in 2012
All-time low
71.8%
in 2006
Years of data
8
2000–2022

Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Italy, 2000–2022

0204060802000201120222000: 78 %2003: 73.7 %2006: 71.8 %2009: 77.4 %2012: 79.1 %2015: 77.9 %2018: 75.8 %2022: 77.9 %

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

Analysis

Italy recorded 77.9% for share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in 2022.

The figure is down 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Italy peaked at 79.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 71.8%, in 2006.

That places Italy 9th out of 53 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Annual values for Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Italy, 2000 to 2022.
Year % Change
2000 78.0%
2003 73.7% -5.5%
2006 71.8% -2.6%
2009 77.4% +7.7%
2012 79.1% +2.3%
2015 77.9% -1.6%
2018 75.8% -2.7%
2022 77.9% +2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 75.2% 71.8% 78.0% 4
2010s 77.6% 75.8% 79.1% 3
2020s 77.9% 77.9% 77.9% 1

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 6 United Kingdom 79.7% compare
  2. 7 United States 79.0% compare
  3. 8 Finland 78.3% compare
  4. 10 Australia 77.7% compare
  5. 11 Russia 77.5% compare
  6. 12 Poland 76.7% compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More reference data data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Italy?
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Italy was 77.9% 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 Italy?
The highest recorded value was 79.1% in 2012.
What is the lowest share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 71.8% in 2006.
How does Italy rank for share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age?
Italy ranks 9th 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 Italy?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Italy 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 Italy. 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/italy/

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