The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an assessment that evaluates educational systems of countries across the world. The PISA assessments occur every three years and are meant to assess 15 year-old students on their knowledge and skills in mathematics and science. PISA mathematics and science performances also serve as OECD education indicators. The most recent PISA assessments occurred in 2022. The following charts focus on the latest assessment and the following select countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In comparing gender, girls’ 90th percentile math scores were lower than their male counterparts in 2022. The United States had one of the largest gender differences in 90th percentile scores, where girls scored 32 points lower than boys. Malaysia had one of the smallest gender differences, where girls scored 5 points lower than boys.
*Gender difference (boys-girls) shown as data labels
In comparing gender, girls’ mean math scores were lower than their male counterparts in 2022, except in Malaysia where girls on average scored 10 points higher than boys in math. A couple of the largest gender differences, in favor of boys, were found in the United Kingdom (14 points) and the United States (13 points).
*Gender difference (boys-girls) shown as data labels
The gender gap in 90th percentile scores in math has been fluctuating across countries between 2012 through 2022. In 2022, gaps of 19-32 points were observed with girls scoring much lower than boys across countries and the OECD average, except for Malaysia who had the smallest gender difference at 5 points.
*Gender difference (boys-girls) shown as data labels
*Blank cells represent data that are not available
Girls have lower 90th percentile scores than boys in science in 2022, where gender differences ranged from 11-20 points in favor of boys, except in Malaysia were girls scored 1 point lower than boys. The United States had one of the largest gender differences, where girls scored 22 points lower than boys.
*Gender difference (boys-girls) shown as data labels
The gender gap in mean scores in science in 2022 was between 0 to 14 points in favor of boys, except in Malaysia were girls scored 13 points higher than boys. Mexico had one of the largest gender differences, where girls scored 14 points lower than boys.
*Gender difference (boys-girls) shown as data labels
The gender gap in 90th percentile scores in science has been fluctuating across countries between 2012 through 2022. In 2022, gaps of 10-22 points were observed with girls scoring lower than boys across countries and the OECD average, except for Malaysia who had one of the smallest gender differences at 1 point in favor of boys.
*Gender difference (boys-girls) shown as data labels
*Blank cells represent data that are not available
The gender gap among the bottom quarter of PISA’s economic, social and cultural status (ESCS) in math was between 6-21 points in favor of boys in 2022, except in Malaysia, where girls scored 6 points higher than boys. Among the top quarter of ESCS, gaps of 7-29 points were observed, with girls scoring lower than boys across countries and the OECD average, except for Malaysia who had no gender difference.
*Gender difference calculated as boys-girls
The gender gap among the bottom quarter of PISA’s economic, social and cultural status (ESCS) in science was been between 1-17 points in favor of boys in 2022, except in Canada (no gender differences), and two countries where girls scored higher than boys: Australia (3 points), and Malaysia (11 points). Among the top quarter of ESCS, gaps of 1-21 points were observed with girls scoring lower than boys across countries, except for Germany (7 points) and Malaysia (2 points) where girls outperformed boys.
*Gender difference calculated as boys-girls
Additional Resources
- PISA results. Retrieved from https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/pisa_19963777