Norway and Sweden: with the 2012 population makeup adults would have gained 10 reading points each, not 4 and 5
The OECD reweighted 2023 scores as if the shares of ages, men and women, and immigrants had stayed as in 2012. The chart shows where the adjustment is largest.
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In 11 years the population changes: it ages and immigrants arrive, some taking the test outside their first language. The adjustment asks what the score would be had the makeup not changed.
Pairs of bars: the change in adults' mean reading score from 2012 to 2023, as measured and with the 2012 makeup. The four countries where the adjustment is largest.
- Austria: change 2012→2023: as measured / 2012 makeup points
−11.9 / −5.6
- Norway: change 2012→2023: as measured / 2012 makeup points
+4.4 / +10.4
- Sweden: change 2012→2023: as measured / 2012 makeup points
+4.9 / +10.3
- Germany: change 2012→2023: as measured / 2012 makeup points
−0.1 / +5.3
OECD Survey of Adult Skills 2023, table A.3.1: the change unadjusted and after reweighting the 2023 sample to the 2012 makeup by age, gender and immigrant background.
The adjustment does not mean immigrants "lowered" the score; it only shows how much of the change is linked to makeup. Education and other differences are not accounted for.
A question for this picture
Did the share of weak readers grow in these countries?