Dumbocracy? US Falls Below The OECD Average At Math

Math skills are a foundational input into modern economies. They support innovation, productivity, and long-term competitiveness. As technology and data-driven work become more central, countries with stronger math outcomes often gain an edge.

This infographic, via Visual Capitalist’s Bruno Venditti, ranks countries by their average math scores among 15–16 year-olds.

The data for this visualization comes from the OECD’s PISA 2022 assessment. PISA measures how well students can apply math knowledge to practical problems, offering a global comparison of education systems.

Scores typically range from below 400 to above 600. Top performers in this dataset score well above the OECD average of 472.

East Asia Sets the Global Benchmark

Singapore ranks first with an average math score of 575.

Macau (SAR), Taiwan, Hong Kong (SAR), Japan, and South Korea also appear near the top of the ranking. These economies have consistently prioritized math education through rigorous programs and high academic expectations.

Rank
Country
Average PISA Score
1
🇸🇬 Singapore
575
2
🇲🇴 Macau
552
3
🇹🇼 Taiwan
547
4
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
540
5
🇯🇵 Japan
536
6
🇰🇷 South Korea
527
7
🇪🇪 Estonia
510
8
🇨🇭 Switzerland
508
9
🇨🇦 Canada
497
10
🇳🇱 Netherlands
493
11
🇮🇪 Ireland
492
12
🇧🇪 Belgium
489
13
🇩🇰 Denmark
489
14
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
489
15
🇵🇱 Poland
489
16
🇦🇺 Australia
487
17
🇦🇹 Austria
487
18
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
487
19
🇸🇮 Slovenia
485
20
🇫🇮 Finland
484
21
🇱🇻 Latvia
483
22
🇸🇪 Sweden
482
23
🇳🇿 New Zealand
479
24
🇩🇪 Germany
475
25
🇱🇹 Lithuania
475
26
🇫🇷 France
474
27
🇪🇸 Spain
473
28
🇭🇺 Hungary
473
29
🇵🇹 Portugal
472
 
🌐 OECD average
472
30
🇮🇹 Italy
471
31
🇳🇴 Norway
468
32
🇲🇹 Malta
466
33
🇺🇸 U.S.
465
34
🇸🇰 Slovakia
464
35
🇭🇷 Croatia
463

Europe’s Strong, Steady Performers

Several European countries cluster just above or around the 500 mark. Estonia leads the region, followed closely by Switzerland and the Netherlands. Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, and Poland also post solid results.

How North America Compares

Canada ranks ninth overall with a score of 497, standing out as one of the strongest performers outside East Asia and Europe. The United States ranks lower at 465, below the OECD average.

Countries from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are absent from the list, reflecting long-standing gaps in educational performance across regions.

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: Productivity of the World’s Largest 30 Economies (2005-2025) on Voronoi, the app from Visual Capitalist.