Gender gaps in mathematics and reading


The gender gaps in mathematics and reading achievement refer to the finding that, on average, the two sexes perform differently in mathematics and reading skills on tests. On average, boys and men exceed in mathematics, while girls and women exceed in reading skills.

Mathematics and reading gaps by country

The Programme for International Student Assessment assesses the performance of 15-year-olds in mathematics and reading in OECD and OECD partner countries. The table below lists the scores of the PISA 2009 assessment in mathematics and reading by country, as well as the difference between boys and girls. Gaps in bold font mean that the gender gap is statistically significant. A positive mathematics gap means that boys outperform girls, a negative mathematics gap means that girls outperform boys. A positive reading gap means that girls outperform boys. There is a negative correlation between the mathematics and reading gender gaps, that is, nations with a larger mathematics gap have a smaller reading gap and vice versa.
CountryMathematics scoreMathematics gender gapReading scoreReading gender gap
382 32 413 10
410 26 442 14
535 24 500 32
515 22 506 27
492 21 494 26
420 21 450 22
496 20 470 41
489 20 472 39
534 20 500 39
487 20 500 25
484 19 482 29
365 18 370 22
526 17 508 25
Miranda398 17 421 18
503 16 494 29
497 16 495 40
512 15 498 40
482 15 487 46
386 15 411 28
466 14 482 47
554 14 534 32
418 13 426 25
527 12 524 35
490 12 494 38
487 12 489 38
372 12 402 31
427 12 424 41
402 12 408 52
388 11 397 36
446 11 464 43
526 11 487 34
442 11 442 40
460 11 478 51
514 10 514 37
52910520 39
4878496 39
5198522 45
4478474 43
431 8 362 24
512 8 502 44
562 6 526 31
4925480 48
4985504 47
5445496 37
3605370 33
5464540 35
4954500 49
4274424 42
4194419 38
4204406 40
5403536 55
5063500 44
4963478 51
3983388 45
4822484 47
4682460 45
5021484 55
4050390 43
372-1402 37
386-1406 57
494-2498 46
Shanghai600-2556 40
380-3374 61
404-3414 35
428-4430 61
368 -5 372 50
331 -6 314 53
477 -6 468 59
421 -6 431 58
Tamil Nadu350-7335 36
414 -8 416 58
378 -11 386 62
462 -15 442 72