OECD study finds Latvian students’ performance falling across all subjects

Latvian students’ performance in science, mathematics and reading has declined to its lowest level since the country joined the assessment, LSM reported, citing the latest OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Latvian students performed better than the OECD average in digital skills, but their results in the three main subjects deteriorated. The study also found that student performance is declining worldwide.

The 2025 assessment analysed 91 education systems. In Latvia, nearly 7,000 15-year-old students from 268 schools completed tasks and surveys covering science, mathematics, reading and problem-solving in a digital environment.

Science results below OECD average

Science was the main focus of the latest assessment. It examined students’ ability to critically evaluate scientific evidence, identify reliable sources of information and make decisions based on scientific knowledge.

Latvian 15-year-olds scored an average of 468 points in science, below the OECD average of 482 points. Latvia ranked 37th among the 91 participating countries and territories.

Mathematics scores fell from 483 points in 2022 to 460 points in 2025, close to the OECD average of 463 points. Between 2015 and 2025, the proportion of students with low mathematics results increased by 11 percentage points.

The average reading score fell to 430 points, down from 476 points in 2022 and below the OECD average of 461 points. Some 41% of students failed to reach the minimum proficiency level, while 2.6% achieved the highest level, compared with an OECD average of 5.8%.

The decline in Latvian students’ results occurred as the country was implementing significant education reforms.