Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Restricted from publication
1.4. Contact person function
Restricted from publication
1.5. Contact mail address
ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu
1.6. Contact email address
Restricted from publication
1.7. Contact phone number
Restricted from publication
1.8. Contact fax number
Restricted from publication
2.1. Metadata last certified
19 March 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
4 November 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
19 March 2025
3.1. Data description
The indicator measures the share of 15-year-old students failing to reach level 2 (‘basic skills level’) on the PISA scale for the three core school subjects of reading, mathematics and science. The data stem from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is a regularly conducted international survey which aims to evaluate education systems by testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old students.
3.2. Classification system
Not applicable.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Formal education.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
See link to external data source under point 18.1.
3.5. Statistical unit
15-year-old students.
3.6. Statistical population
15-year-old students in formal education (schools).
3.7. Reference area
All EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein (until 2012), Norway, Switzerland, Albania, Montenegro, FYROM, Serbia, Turkey, Russia (until 2022), United States, Japan and South Korea.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Presented time series start in 2000 (reading), 2003 (mathematics) and 2006 (science).
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
% of 15-year-old students.
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Not applicable.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable.
8.1. Release calendar
Not applicable.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Dissemination format') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
Every three or four years.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not applicable.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of the indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards the SDGs in an EU context).
Data are collected from reliable sources applying high standards with regard to methodology and ensuring a high degree of comparability across countries. Because of the short time series and changes in the questionnaire the comparability over time is restricted.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 4 on ensuring inclusive and quality education for all.
SDG 4 seeks to ensure people have access to equitable and quality education through all stages of life, from early childhood education and care, through primary and secondary schooling, to technical, vocational training and tertiary education. Achieving universal literacy and numeracy and acquiring knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development are also considered crucial for empowering people to live independent, healthy and sustainable lives.
The Council of the European Union on 26 February 2021 adopted the Resolution on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021–2030), a framework that addresses five strategic priorities: (1) Improving quality, equity, inclusion and success for all in education and training; (2) Making lifelong learning and mobility a reality for all; (3) Enhancing competences and motivation in the education profession; (4) Reinforcing European higher education; and (5) Supporting green and digital transitions in and through education and training.
The Council Resolution sets the EU target for the share of low-achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science as measured by this SDG indicator to be less than 15% by 2030.
The data are coming from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) which is an internationally standardised assessment developed by the OECD and administered to 15-year-olds in schools. PISA is methodologically highly complex, requiring intensive collaboration among many stakeholders. The PISA Technical Report describes those methodologies, along with other features that have enabled PISA to provide high quality data to support policy formation and review. The descriptions are provided at a level of detail that will enable review and potentially replication of the implemented procedures and technical solutions to problems.
See also link to related metadata of the external data source under point 18.1.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
New data points are disseminated within two years after the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data for all presented countries are comparable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is more than 4 data points for Science and Mathematics. Length of comparable time series without methodological breaks for Reading is 2 data points.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
This indicator belongs to the set of education indicators used for monitoring progress towards attainment of the objectives set in the Europe 2020 strategy as well as the Sustainable Development Goals in an EU context.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
17.1. Data revision - policy
All data disseminated consist of data already disseminated by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) (PISA data and methodology | OECD).
The revision policy is therefore effectively the revision policy applied by OECD for PISA.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The revision practice effectively corresponds to the revision practice of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) (PISA data and methodology | OECD) – but with a revision periodicity corresponding to the Eurostat retrieval schedule.
Each year, when data are retrieved by Eurostat from PISA all of the already disseminated data are updated.
Data set provider: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Every three years.
18.3. Data collection
See link to external data source under point 18.1.
18.4. Data validation
See link to external data source under point 18.1.
18.5. Data compilation
Not applicable.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
None.
The indicator measures the share of 15-year-old students failing to reach level 2 (‘basic skills level’) on the PISA scale for the three core school subjects of reading, mathematics and science. The data stem from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is a regularly conducted international survey which aims to evaluate education systems by testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old students.
19 March 2025
See link to external data source under point 18.1.
15-year-old students.
15-year-old students in formal education (schools).
All EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein (until 2012), Norway, Switzerland, Albania, Montenegro, FYROM, Serbia, Turkey, Russia (until 2022), United States, Japan and South Korea.
Calendar year.
High
The data are coming from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) which is an internationally standardised assessment developed by the OECD and administered to 15-year-olds in schools. PISA is methodologically highly complex, requiring intensive collaboration among many stakeholders. The PISA Technical Report describes those methodologies, along with other features that have enabled PISA to provide high quality data to support policy formation and review. The descriptions are provided at a level of detail that will enable review and potentially replication of the implemented procedures and technical solutions to problems.
See also link to related metadata of the external data source under point 18.1.
Data set provider: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Every three or four years.
New data points are disseminated within two years after the reference year.
Data for all presented countries are comparable.
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is more than 4 data points for Science and Mathematics. Length of comparable time series without methodological breaks for Reading is 2 data points.
