Countries by Math Skills

What Student Mathematics Skills Measures

Student Mathematics Skills is a comparative indicator tracked across countries by the OECD. It provides a quantitative basis for cross-national comparison, enabling researchers and policymakers to benchmark national performance on this dimension against global peers.

Why This Ranking Matters

Examining Student Mathematics Skills across all countries reveals patterns that might not be obvious at the national level. Regional clusters, outlier nations, and historical trajectories all become clearer when the full global picture is assembled in a single ranking.

Global Range

Values range from 382.7 (Colombia) to 535.58 (Japan) — minimal difference across 38 countries.

Regional Patterns

European countries dominate this ranking, holding 15 of the top 20 positions. This strong regional concentration suggests shared economic, geographic, or policy factors that drive higher values across the continent.

Values are broadly distributed across countries, with the middle 50% ranging from 464.89 to 488.98. The overall spread from 382.7 to 535.58 reflects significant global variation.

Notable Outliers

The top of the ranking is competitive: Japan and South Korea are separated by only 2%, indicating that the leading positions could shift with updated data.

Continental Leaders

Asia

Japan

535.58

Europe

Estonia

509.95

North America

Canada

496.95

Oceania

Australia

487.08

South America

Chile

411.7