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

Norway: Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age was 72.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
72.3%
World rank
21st
of 53 countries
All-time high
84.7%
in 2015
All-time low
72.3%
in 2022
Years of data
8
2000–2022

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

0204060802000201120222000: 82.1 %2003: 81.5 %2006: 77.2 %2009: 84.6 %2012: 83.4 %2015: 84.7 %2018: 80.4 %2022: 72.3 %

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 Norway is 72.3%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Norway peaked at 84.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 72.3%, in 2022.

That places Norway 21st 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 Norway, year by year

Annual values for Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Norway, 2000 to 2022.
Year % Change
2000 82.1%
2003 81.5% -0.8%
2006 77.2% -5.2%
2009 84.6% +9.6%
2012 83.4% -1.4%
2015 84.7% +1.6%
2018 80.4% -5.1%
2022 72.3% -10.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 81.3% 77.2% 84.6% 4
2010s 82.9% 80.4% 84.7% 3
2020s 72.3% 72.3% 72.3% 1

Countries ranked near Norway

  1. 18 Switzerland 74.5% compare
  2. 19 Austria 73.5% compare
  3. 20 Slovenia 73.4% compare
  4. 22 France 71.9% compare
  5. 23 Spain 71.7% compare
  6. 24 Portugal 71.4% compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More reference data data for Norway

All data for Norway →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Norway?
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Norway was 72.3% 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 Norway?
The highest recorded value was 84.7% in 2015.
What is the lowest share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age recorded in Norway?
The lowest recorded value was 72.3% in 2022.
How does Norway rank for share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age?
Norway ranks 21st 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 Norway?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Norway 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 Norway. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-children-reaching-sufficient-reading-comprehension-by-the-end-of-lower-secondary/norway/

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