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

Switzerland: Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age was 74.5% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
74.5%
World rank
18th
of 53 countries
All-time high
84.8%
in 2012
All-time low
74.5%
in 2022
Years of data
8
2000–2022

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

0204060802000201120222000: 77.5 %2003: 81.4 %2006: 81.8 %2009: 81.6 %2012: 84.8 %2015: 78.8 %2018: 75.3 %2022: 74.5 %

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 Switzerland stood at 74.5%. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.

That represents a change of down 12.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Switzerland peaked at 84.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 74.5%, in 2022.

That places Switzerland 18th 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 Switzerland, year by year

Annual values for Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Switzerland, 2000 to 2022.
Year % Change
2000 77.5%
2003 81.4% +5.0%
2006 81.8% +0.6%
2009 81.6% -0.3%
2012 84.8% +3.9%
2015 78.8% -7.1%
2018 75.3% -4.4%
2022 74.5% -1.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 80.6% 77.5% 81.8% 4
2010s 79.6% 75.3% 84.8% 3
2020s 74.5% 74.5% 74.5% 1

Countries ranked near Switzerland

  1. 15 Czechia 75.4% compare
  2. 16 Sweden 75.2% compare
  3. 17 Lithuania 74.5% compare
  4. 19 Austria 73.5% compare
  5. 20 Slovenia 73.4% compare
  6. 21 Norway 72.3% compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More reference data data for Switzerland

All data for Switzerland →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Switzerland?
Share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age in Switzerland was 74.5% 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 Switzerland?
The highest recorded value was 84.8% in 2012.
What is the lowest share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age recorded in Switzerland?
The lowest recorded value was 74.5% in 2022.
How does Switzerland rank for share of children achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower-secondary age?
Switzerland ranks 18th 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 Switzerland?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Switzerland 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 Switzerland. 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/switzerland/

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