THE SURVEY
Above the OECD average
Adults in England averaged 268 points in numeracy, against an OECD average of 263. Japan and Germany were the only G7 countries ahead.
Check the levelsEVERYDAY NUMBERS
Numbers are
for life.
One adult in five finds multi-step sums hard.
Check the levels
268 POINTSEngland's numeracy average
The OECD's Survey of Adult Skills tested adults aged 16 to 65 in 31 countries in 2022 and 2023. England scored above average in numeracy, but about a fifth of adults are at the lowest levels, and that group has not improved since 2012.
At a glance
- Above the OECD average
- A gap that has widened
- Free maths to GCSE level
- It is never too late
21%
Adults at Level 1 or below in numeracy
In England, 21% of adults scored at Level 1 or below in numeracy, compared with 25% across the OECD on average. Men scored 16 points higher than women on average.
LOW NUMERACY · PIAAC 2023
8.5 million
Adults with low literacy, numeracy or both
Applying the survey results to the working-age population gives an estimated 8.5 million adults in England with low basic skills. NFER reports over half of low-skilled adults are now aged 45 and over.
LOW BASIC SKILLS · DfE
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Fewer than most,
still millions.
One figure on numeracy alone,
one on literacy and numeracy together.
Young adults have improved: people aged 16 to 24 in England significantly outperformed their OECD peers in numeracy in 2023, and the 2012 cohort made large gains by their late twenties and early thirties (NFER).
A QUICK LEVEL CHECK
How are adults
spread out?
Pick a numeracy level from the 2023 survey to see the share of adults in England who scored there. The bar shows how big each group is.
Based on the Survey of Adult Skills 2023 (PIAAC) National Report for England, Department for Education. Adults aged 16 to 65.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Good on average,
a stubborn tail.
England's adults did better than in 2012.
The lowest scorers did not move.
THE GAP
The top rose, the bottom stayed
The gap between highest and lowest achievers has grown since 2012, driven by top performers improving while the lowest achievers' skills stayed the same.
See the numbers
FREE COURSES
Maths to GCSE level, usually free
If you are over 16 and have left school, you normally do not have to pay for English or maths to GCSE level in England.
Find a course
FOUR WAYS TO BRUSH UP
Start where
you are.
Numeracy in the survey covers four areas: quantity and number, space and shape, change and relationships, and data and chance. Everyday life uses all four.
Check what is free
Adults over 16 who have left school normally do not pay for English or maths to GCSE level in England.
Find a local course
Search the National Careers Service course finder, or call its free helpline on 0800 100 900, 8am to 10pm, seven days a week.
Pick a place that suits you
Courses run at further education colleges, adult education centres, some libraries, children's centres and other community venues.
Practise the multi-step sums
Low performers struggle most with tasks that have several steps or distracting information, so practise working through those one step at a time.
WHAT THE SURVEY MEANS BY NUMERACY
More than
mental arithmetic.
The 2023 survey defines numeracy as accessing, using and reasoning critically with mathematical content, information and ideas, to manage the mathematical demands of adult life.
It is not about school algebra. It is about reading a chart, working out a discount, comparing quantities or judging a chance, often with extra information getting in the way.
Questions
Questions people ask
How good are adults in England at maths?
In the 2023 Survey of Adult Skills, adults in England averaged 268 points in numeracy, significantly above the OECD average of 263, and England's score has risen significantly since 2012.
What does low numeracy mean in the survey?
Adults at Level 1 or below are counted as low performers. They struggle to complete mathematical tasks with distracting information or to carry out multi-step mathematical processes. In England that is 21% of adults.
Who is most likely to have low skills?
NFER's thematic report finds over half of low-skilled adults are now aged 45 and over, and that women continue to have lower numeracy skills than men.
Are young people getting better?
Yes. In 2023, 16 to 24-year-olds in England significantly outperformed young adults across the OECD in numeracy, and those who were 16 to 24 in 2012 made large gains over the following decade.
Can I study maths for free as an adult?
In England, if you are over 16 and have left school, you normally do not have to pay for English or maths to GCSE level. The National Careers Service course finder lists local courses.
Sources
Where the facts come from
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