New OECD PISA results published on September 8, 2026, show Danish 15-year-olds at their lowest measured level in reading, mathematics and science, part of a decline seen across most participating countries.
The OECD publishes its PISA survey every three years, testing how school students in countries around the world perform in mathematics, reading and science. DR reports that Danish 15-year-olds have never scored lower than in the new round.
Since PISA 2022, Danish results have fallen by 29 points in reading, 18 points in mathematics and 16 points in science, according to DR. The Ministry of Children and Education puts the 2025 scores at 460 points in reading, 471 in mathematics and 478 in science.
As stated by the Ministry of Children and Education, these are the weakest Danish results since Denmark first took part in PISA in 2000. The ministry notes that the drop corresponds to roughly a year or more of learning in reading, and close to a year in mathematics, as also reported by BT.
Denmark in the middle of the Nordic field
Danish students remain above the OECD average in mathematics, but are now level with the average in reading and science, per DR. That marks a change from PISA 2022, when Denmark was above the OECD average in all three subject areas.
Among the Nordic countries, Denmark takes a middle position. In reading, Danish and Swedish students are at roughly the same level, while Finland performs best in the region. In science, Danish students are overtaken by both Finnish and Swedish students, according to DR.
The downward trend is not limited to Denmark. DR reports that results have fallen across the Nordic region since PISA 2022, continuing a negative development over the past decade. The decline also extends well beyond Northern Europe.
Of the 74 countries that took part in both PISA 2022 and PISA 2025, 42 performed worse in reading. Mathematics results dropped in 38 countries, while 11 countries recorded a fall in science, per DR’s review of the figures.
The survey also asked students about school attendance. DR reports that 60 percent of Danish students said they had arrived late within the previous two weeks. A further 28 percent said they had skipped an entire school day in the same period.
DR notes that the results have prompted several crisis meetings among Danish politicians following the historically low measurement. Further coverage of education in Denmark tracks how the school system is organized.
