Portuguese students aged 15 showed declining performance across mathematics, reading, and science in the latest PISA assessment, with results reverting to levels not seen since the early 2000s, according to data released Tuesday by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The Programme for International Student Assessment, conducted every three years, evaluated 6,945 students from 225 Portuguese schools as part of a study involving more than 760,000 students across 91 countries and economies. The results represent a continuation of downward trends observed in the 2022 assessment.
In reading, Portuguese students achieved their worst performance on record, scoring below levels recorded in 2000, when Portugal first participated in PISA. Mathematics results regressed to levels comparable to 2003, while science performance, though more stable, fell below 2015 benchmarks. Across all three subjects, results have returned to values close to those observed in 2006, reversing previous gains entirely.
Comparing performance over the past decade between 2015 and 2025, the number of students performing below level 2—considered a baseline proficiency threshold—has increased. The decline in reading and mathematics from 2022 to 2025 marks a continued deterioration, though science results remained relatively stable year-over-year.
Despite these declines, Portugal maintains results near the OCDE average across the three disciplines. However, the assessment identified persistent challenges within the Portuguese education system. Social inequalities continue to influence student outcomes, with disparities between students remaining a significant concern for policymakers.
The study notes that the performance losses represent more than one year of lost learning. Officials said the education system faces the challenge of improving academic results and reducing inequalities among students going forward.