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Literacy Rates Declining in Austria, Government Data Shows
A recent report indicates a significant increase in the number of Austrians with poor reading skills, raising concerns about the country’s overall literacy level.
By Anya Schmidt | VIENNA – 2025/05/31 12:15:05
New government data reveals that the number of Austrians struggling with basic reading skills has risen by nearly 12% in just over a decade.
According to the country’s statistics office, almost a third of the population in Austria exhibits poor reading abilities, highlighting a worrying trend. The agency, Statistics Austria, noted in a statement that this decline is particularly evident among individuals in jobs requiring medium or low qualifications.
The data indicates that approximately 2.6 million people, or 29.0% of Austria’s nine million residents, have low literacy levels. The number of individuals facing reading challenges increased by 11.9% between 2012 and 2023.
The average literacy level among austrians aged 16 to 65 is 254 points, falling below the 260-point average set by the OECD (institution for Economic Co-operation and Advancement). While those aged 16 to 24 performed above the OECD average, older individuals demonstrated substantially lower reading skills than expected, the agency reported.
