Swedish students post historically poor PISA results

Alarming drop in Swedish schools

Swedish teenagers have posted their weakest PISA scores ever in mathematics, reading, and science. The sharpest fall came in reading, with a decline of 21 points since the last assessment—equivalent to roughly a year of lost learning for a 15-year-old. While math and reading have deteriorated, science results remain stuck at the same low level seen in 2022.

Not a Swedish anomaly

The downward trend is visible across the Nordics, not just in Sweden. According to data compiled by Skolverket, other Nordic nations are also at historic lows. Sweden still hovers around the OECD average because many countries have slipped. Even top performers like Singapore and South Korea have lost ground, particularly in reading. Anna Castberg, Skolverket's head of analysis, called the overall situation gloomy and urged stronger individual support for every pupil.

Digital habits under scrutiny

OECD education chief Andreas Schleicher argues that rising on-screen reading may be behind the poor results. Education Minister Simona Mohamsson (Liberal) went further, warning that excessive screen use risks creating "a generation of functional illiterates" unless devices are removed from classrooms. She described the trend as a "screen pandemic." The concerns echo findings from the 2022 round, which already showed weakening in math and reading. This latest data intensifies worries about how digital habits are affecting learning, and the debate over screen time in schools is now sharper than ever.

A call for action

The record-low results are a wake-up call for Sweden and other affected nations. With evidence mounting that screen-heavy learning environments may harm core skills, policymakers face pressure to rethink classroom practices. The message from Skolverket and education leaders is clear: reversing this slide will require determined, long-term efforts focused on each student's needs. Without such measures, the risk of leaving an entire generation without solid literacy and numeracy is all too real.