Gender gaps in mathematics and reading explained

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 excell in mathematics, while girls and women excell in reading skills.[1] [2] [3]

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 (p<0.05). 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 (no country has a negative reading gap). 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.[1]

CountryMathematics scoreMathematics gender gapReading scoreReading gender gap
Colombia382 32 413 10
Costa Rica410 26 442 14
Liechtenstein535 24 500 32
Belgium515 22 506 27
492 21 494 26
Chile420 21 450 22
Austria496 20 470 41
Luxembourg489 20 472 39
Switzerland534 20 500 39
United States487 20 500 25
Spain484 19 482 29
Peru365 18 370 22
Netherlands526 17 508 25
Miranda398 17 421 18
Denmark503 16 494 29
France497 16 495 40
Germany512 15 498 40
Italy482 15 487 46
Brazil386 15 411 28
Greece466 14 482 47
Hong Kong554 14 534 32
Mexico418 13 426 25
Canada527 12 524 35
Hungary490 12 494 38
Portugal487 12 489 38
Tunisia372 12 402 31
Uruguay427 12 424 41
Montenegro402 12 408 52
Argentina388 11 397 36
Turkey446 11 464 43
Macao526 11 487 34
Serbia442 11 442 40
Croatia460 11 478 51
Australia514 10 514 37
Japan52910520 39
Ireland4878496 39
New Zealand5198522 45
Israel4478474 43
Azerbaijan431 8 362 24
Estonia512 8 502 44
Singapore562 6 526 31
Czech Republic4925480 48
Norway4985504 47
5445496 37
Panama3605370 33
5464540 35
Poland4954500 49
Romania4274424 42
Thailand4194419 38
Mauritius4204406 40
Finland5403536 55
Iceland5063500 44
Slovakia4963478 51
3983388 45
Latvia4822484 47
4682460 45
Slovenia5021484 55
Kazakhstan4050390 43
Indonesia372-1402 37
Jordan386-1406 57
Sweden494-2498 46
China Shanghai600-2556 40
380-3374 61
Malaysia404-3414 35
Bulgaria428-4430 61
Qatar368 -5 372 50
Kyrgyzstan331 -6 314 53
Lithuania477 -6 468 59
United Arab Emirates421 -6 431 58
India Tamil Nadu350-7335 36
Trinidad and Tobago414 -8 416 58
Albania378 -11 386 62
Malta462 -15 442 72

Notes and References

  1. Stoet . Gijsbert . Geary, David C . Sex differences in mathematics and reading achievement are inversely related: Within-and across-nation assessment of 10 years of PISA data . PLOS ONE . 2013 . 8 . 3 . e57988 . Public Library of Science . 10.1371/journal.pone.0057988 . 23516422 . 3596327. 2013PLoSO...857988S . free .
  2. Book: Geary , David C. . Male, Female . American Psychological Association . 2nd . 2010 . Washington D.C. .
  3. Book: Halpern , Diane F. . Sex differences in Cognitive Abilities . Psychology Press . 4th . 2012 . New York .

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