Countries by Reading Score Gap

What Student Reading Gap (Top 10% vs Bottom 10%) Measures

Student Reading Gap (Top 10% vs Bottom 10%) is a comparative indicator tracked across countries by the OECD. It provides a quantitative basis for cross-national comparison, enabling researchers and policymakers to benchmark national performance on this dimension against global peers.

Why This Ranking Matters

Examining Student Reading Gap (Top 10% vs Bottom 10%) across all countries reveals patterns that might not be obvious at the national level. Regional clusters, outlier nations, and historical trajectories all become clearer when the full global picture is assembled in a single ranking.

Global Range

Values range from 1.57 (Ireland) to 2.06 (Israel) — minimal difference across 38 countries.

Regional Patterns

European countries dominate this ranking, holding 15 of the top 20 positions. This strong regional concentration suggests shared economic, geographic, or policy factors that drive higher values across the continent.

Values are broadly distributed across countries, with the middle 50% ranging from 1.70 to 1.82. The overall spread from 1.57 to 2.06 reflects significant global variation.

Notable Outliers

The top of the ranking is competitive: Israel and Netherlands are separated by only 3%, indicating that the leading positions could shift with updated data.

Continental Leaders

Asia

Israel

2.06

Europe

Netherlands

2.00

North America

Colombia

1.84

Oceania

Australia

1.82

South America

Chile

1.73