China Leads Global Mathematics Performance in the 2026 PISA Ranking
Kabarsaji.com – Mathematics results from the latest Programme for International Student Assessment place China at the head of the global field, highlighting the continued strength of several Asian education systems. The 2025 PISA assessment, published in September 2026, evaluated how 15-year-old students use mathematics, reading and science skills in practical situations.
China recorded an average mathematics score of 612, far above the OECD average of 463. The result was almost 150 points higher than that benchmark and gave China a 49-point advantage over second-place Singapore. In this assessment, China’s participation covers Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
More than 760,000 students took part in PISA 2025 across 91 countries and economies. Together, they represented approximately 33 million 15-year-olds worldwide. Uzbekistan was not included in the comparable mathematics ranking because no equivalent score was available.
What PISA Mathematics Scores Measure
PISA is designed to test more than students’ ability to recall equations or repeat classroom procedures. Its mathematics component examines whether young people can reason with numbers, interpret information and apply mathematical knowledge to everyday problems.
That distinction matters when comparing education systems. A high score reflects performance on tasks that require students to connect mathematics with real-world contexts, rather than simply reproduce a memorized formula.
The 10 Highest-Scoring Participants
1. China — 612
China achieved the highest mathematics score in the assessment, reaching 612 points. The result put it decisively ahead of every other participating country or economy.
2. Singapore — 563
Singapore took second place with 563 points. It was one of seven Asian education systems represented in the top 10, demonstrating the region’s dominant position in the ranking.
3. Macao — 549
Macao ranked third after earning an average score of 549. Along with China, Singapore and Taiwan, it helped fill four of the leading positions with Asian participants.
4. Taiwan — 546
Taiwan placed fourth with 546 points, only three points behind Macao. Its performance kept it among the assessment’s four strongest mathematics participants.
5. Japan — 525
Japan’s score of 525 secured fifth place. Although it was 21 points below Taiwan, Japan remained firmly within the group of leading Asian systems.
6. Korea — 522
Korea recorded 522 points and shared the same score as Hong Kong. The tie placed Korea sixth in the ranking.
7. Hong Kong — 522
Hong Kong also posted an average of 522 points. It was listed seventh despite matching Korea’s score, extending East Asia’s strong representation near the top.
8. Estonia — 508
Estonia ranked eighth with 508 points and was the highest-scoring European country or economy in the top 10. Its place interrupted the otherwise heavy concentration of East Asian participants in the upper ranks.
9. Switzerland — 499
Switzerland reached ninth place with an average mathematics score of 499. The country was one of two European entries among the 10 strongest performers.
10. United Kingdom — 488
The United Kingdom completed the top 10 with 488 points. It outperformed several large Western economies, while Canada narrowly missed the group in 11th place.
Canada, the United States and Other English-Speaking Participants
Canada earned 485 points, placing 11th overall and 22 points above the OECD average. Its score was ahead of Germany, France, Spain and Italy, among other major European economies.
The United States ranked 27th with 463 points, exactly equal to the OECD average. Australia took 17th place with 478 points, while New Zealand shared 14th with a score of 480.
These positions offer a reminder that international rankings provide a comparative snapshot, not a complete account of a school system. PISA focuses on one age group and a defined set of skills, but it can still show where students are comparatively well prepared to use mathematics beyond routine classroom exercises.
A Wider Decline in Mathematics Results
The assessment also pointed to a broader challenge across the OECD. Average mathematics performance among OECD countries declined by 22 points from 2015 to 2025. That fall is equivalent to slightly more than one year of learning, while decreases were also seen among participants outside the OECD.
The findings raise questions that go beyond the order of the top 10. A decline of this scale suggests that many education systems face pressure to strengthen foundational numerical understanding, problem-solving and student engagement at the same time.
Digital Leisure and Student Outcomes
PISA identified a relationship between extensive digital leisure activity and weaker student outcomes. Students spending more than four hours each day on digital leisure outside school tended to have lower mathematics results and a reduced sense of belonging.
The pattern was not simply a case of less screen time producing better outcomes. Moderate use of digital leisure was linked with stronger results and a greater sense of belonging than either no use or exceptionally high use. The finding points to balance as an important consideration for families, educators and students.
China’s leading score and Asia’s seven places in the top 10 are the most visible features of the ranking. Yet the larger message from PISA 2025 is the uneven state of mathematics learning worldwide: strong performance remains possible, while declining averages and changing student habits continue to shape the education debate.
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