{
  "id": 8846138,
  "title": "Top 10 Countries With the Best Math Skills in 2026",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/top-10-countries-with-the-best-math-skills-in-2026",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T05:12:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tempo.co English",
    "slug": "tempo-co-english",
    "url": "https://en.tempo.co/read/2119989/top-10-countries-with-the-best-math-skills-in-2026"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2026, China emerged as the top-performing country in mathematics among 15-year-old students, according to the latest international assessment. The country scored an impressive average PISA score of 612, significantly outperforming the OECD average by nearly 150 points. This achievement is accompanied by a high of seven Asian education systems occupying the top 10 spots in the ranking.\n\nFollowing China, Singapore claimed the second position with an average mathematics score of 563, just 49 points below China. Macao and Taiwan rounded out the top four, respectively scoring 549 and 546. This dominance of Asian education systems in the top positions is evident, as Japan placed fifth with a score of 525 and Korea tied for sixth with Hong Kong at 522.\n\nThe ranking also includes Estonia at eighth with 508, Switzerland at ninth with 499, and the United Kingdom at tenth with 488. Notably, several Western economies, including Canada (11th with 485) and the United States (27th with 463), also feature in the top 30.\n\nIn contrast, the United States and Canada rank lower compared to their Asian counterparts. Canada's score of 485 is 22 points above the OECD average, and the United States' score of 463 matches the OECD average exactly. Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand follow with rankings of 17th and 14th, respectively, scoring 478 and 480.\n\nThe PISA assessment also reveals a concerning decline in mathematics performance across OECD countries, with average math scores dropping by 22 points between 2015 and 2025. This decline is accompanied by an association between excessive digital leisure use and lower student outcomes, highlighting the impact of modern technology on student achievement.",
  "summary": "Think you know which countries are best at math? The latest PISA ranking reveals a surprising top 10 led by China.",
  "key_points": [
    "China leads with 612 average PISA score in 2026 math skills",
    "Seven Asian countries top 10 rankings in 2026 assessment",
    "US ranks 27th with 463, below OECD average"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The dominance of Asian education systems in the top math rankings highlights a significant shift in the global education landscape, with Western economies like the US and Canada lagging behind their Asian counterparts.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}