…East Asian education systems dominate the global rankings, with China, Singapore and Taiwan leading as the United States and other Western countries trail behind
East Asia has strengthened its position as the world’s leading region for academic performance, with students from China, Singapore, Taiwan, Macao, Japan and South Korea occupying the top six positions in a new global education ranking.
The latest results from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show that students from China’s participating regions recorded an average score of 578.7 across mathematics, science and reading, comfortably ahead of Singapore’s 552.7 and Taiwan’s 531.3.
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The findings offer a fresh comparison of how education systems are preparing young people to apply knowledge, solve problems and develop skills needed beyond the classroom. They also highlight a widening performance gap between leading Asian education systems and several Western countries, including the United States, which ranked 16th.
The ranking is based on PISA 2025 results, released on September 8, 2026, and covers 91 countries and economies. More than 760,000 students, representing approximately 33 million 15-year-olds worldwide, took part in the assessment.
PISA measures students’ ability to apply knowledge in mathematics, science and reading to real-life situations. It does not measure intelligence or determine which country’s population is inherently smarter. The overall ranking below uses the equally weighted average of the three subject scores, calculated by Visual Capitalist rather than the OECD.
Here are the 10 countries with the highest-performing students in 2026.
1. China – 578.7 points
China’s participating regions, Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, lead the global ranking with an average score of 578.7, making them the strongest performers across the three assessed subjects.
The regions recorded 612 points in mathematics and 597 in science, the highest scores in both subjects. Their reading score of 527 was also among the strongest globally, although Singapore performed better.
The results underline the academic strength of China’s leading urban and provincial education systems. However, they should not be interpreted as representative of the entire country, as the assessment covered four relatively prosperous regions rather than China’s full student population.
China’s performance also extends beyond conventional classroom subjects. The OECD reported that its participating regions ranked among the leading performers in the assessment’s computational problem-solving component, which examines students’ ability to use digital tools to solve problems.
2. Singapore – 552.7 points
Singapore ranks second overall, with an average score of 552.7, and leads the world in reading with 535 points.
Its students scored 563 in mathematics and 560 in science, placing the country among the strongest performers in both subjects. Singapore is also one of only two education systems, alongside China’s participating regions, that the OECD identified as the highest performers across all three core subjects.
The country’s performance reflects a long-standing emphasis on strong foundational learning, structured teaching and the development of problem-solving skills. Its education system places considerable attention on mathematics and science while maintaining strong reading outcomes.
Singapore’s position is particularly notable because it demonstrates that high academic performance is not confined to large economies or countries with extensive natural resources. Consistent investment in education and the organisation of teaching and learning can also produce strong results.
3. Taiwan – 531.3 points
Taiwan, identified as Chinese Taipei in the OECD assessment, ranks third with an overall average of 531.3 points.
Its students scored 546 in mathematics, 540 in science and 508 in reading. Mathematics remains its strongest subject, with the country recording the third-highest score globally in the discipline.
Taiwan’s performance reflects the strength of its education system and its emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These skills are particularly important to its advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industries, which have made the economy a significant player in global technology supply chains.
The country’s position also reinforces the wider dominance of East Asian education systems in the latest assessment.
4. Macao – 530.3 points
Macao ranks fourth with an average score of 530.3, narrowly ahead of Japan.
Its students recorded 549 points in mathematics, 541 in science and 501 in reading. The territory’s mathematics performance places it among the world’s strongest education systems in the subject.
Macao also performed exceptionally well in computational problem-solving, recording 572 points, the highest score in that assessment.
Its results demonstrate that smaller economies can compete strongly in international education assessments when their students have access to effective teaching and learning environments.
5. Japan – 522 points
Japan occupies fifth place, with an overall average of 522 points. Its students scored 538 in science, 525 in mathematics and 503 in reading.
Science is Japan’s strongest subject, reflecting the country’s long-established emphasis on scientific education, research and technological development.
Japan’s performance is also supported by a relatively structured education system, with attention to foundational knowledge, classroom discipline and consistent academic standards.
The country has maintained a strong presence in international education assessments, particularly in mathematics and science, where it continues to compete with the highest-performing Asian economies.
6. South Korea – 516.3 points
South Korea ranks sixth, recording an average score of 516.3 across the three subjects.
Its students achieved 526 points in science, 522 in mathematics and 501 in reading, placing the country among the strongest performers in all three areas.
South Korea’s education system is widely associated with high academic expectations, strong competition for university admission and considerable household investment in supplementary education.
However, its results should also be viewed alongside wider debates about academic pressure, student well-being and the cost of private tutoring.
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The country remains one of the world’s strongest performers in science and mathematics, reflecting the importance it places on education and technical skills.
7. Estonia – 511.3 points
Estonia is the first European country in the ranking, placing seventh with an average score of 511.3.
Its students recorded 527 points in science, 508 in mathematics and 499 in reading, making it one of the strongest-performing education systems outside East Asia.
Estonia’s performance is particularly notable given its relatively small population and economy. Its education system has attracted international attention for its digital integration, emphasis on equal access and strong foundational learning.
The country demonstrates that high academic achievement does not depend solely on the size of an economy or the scale of its education budget. How effectively schools use available resources and support students also matters.
8. Hong Kong – 499.3 points
Hong Kong ranks eighth, with an average score of 499.3.
Its students achieved 522 points in mathematics, 496 in science and 480 in reading. Mathematics remains its strongest subject, placing Hong Kong among the world’s leading performers in the discipline.
The results reflect the territory’s strong academic culture and emphasis on mathematics and science. However, its overall average is considerably lower than that of the leading five education systems, showing differences even among East Asian economies.
Hong Kong’s performance also highlights the importance of looking beyond regional averages when comparing education systems. Countries and economies with similar cultural and economic characteristics can still produce different learning outcomes.
9. United Kingdom – 497.7 points
The United Kingdom is the highest-ranked Western European country in the top 10, with an average score of 497.7.
British students scored 511 in science, 488 in mathematics and 494 in reading. Science was their strongest subject, while mathematics remained a weaker area compared with the leading Asian education systems.
The UK has continued to perform relatively well in international assessments, supported by an established education system and investment in research and scientific development.
However, its position outside the top eight shows the gap between its performance and that of leading Asian economies, particularly in mathematics.
10. New Zealand – 495.3 points
New Zealand completes the top 10, with an overall average score of 495.3.
Its students scored 509 in science, 480 in mathematics and 497 in reading. The country performed particularly well in science and reading, although its mathematics score was considerably lower.
New Zealand’s position places it ahead of Canada, which ranked 11th with an average score of 495, and Australia, which ranked 13th with 492.7.
Its performance illustrates the relatively strong position of English-speaking education systems in the ranking, although they remain behind the leading Asian economies.
Why East Asian students continue to outperform
The concentration of East Asian education systems at the top of the ranking raises questions about what drives their academic performance.
According to the report, academic discipline, structured curricula, teacher development, family involvement and strong expectations around educational achievement are frequently cited as characteristics of several high-performing Asian systems.
However, the results cannot be explained by culture or teaching methods alone. Economic conditions, household resources, access to technology, school quality and the wider social environment also influence how students perform.
The OECD’s 2025 report identifies the importance of support beyond the classroom. It states that “Schools, families and communities all play a key role in supporting student engagement and educational success.”
Teacher support is another important factor. The organisation found that students who reported greater teacher support in science lessons tended to record stronger science performance and more positive attitudes towards learning.
The report also found that socioeconomic background remained strongly associated with academic achievement, accounting for 12 percent of the variation in science performance within countries and economies.
This suggests that high-performing education systems are not simply those that demand more from students, but those that build the conditions in which students can learn and succeed.
Where are the African countries?
No African country appears in the top 40 of the Visual Capitalist ranking, raising questions about the continent’s education systems and their ability to equip young people with the skills needed in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
However, the absence of African countries from this particular ranking should not be interpreted as evidence that African students lack academic ability. PISA participation is not universal, and the results cover only the education systems included in the assessment.
African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda and Zambia, participated in the 2025 assessment, but none reached the top 40 overall.
The challenges facing education across much of the continent are largely structural. Inadequate school infrastructure, shortages of qualified teachers, limited learning materials, poverty and unequal access to quality education continue to affect learning outcomes.
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A 2025 continental report by UNESCO, the African Union and UNICEF identified persistent gaps in foundational learning, teacher supply, infrastructure and education financing. It also highlighted the need for better coordination and more effective use of available resources.
These challenges are particularly significant for a continent with one of the world’s youngest populations. Without improvements in foundational literacy, numeracy and science education, millions of young Africans risk entering the labour market without the skills required to participate fully in the digital and knowledge-based economy.
The PISA results therefore offer more than a league table of high-performing students. They provide a measure of how effectively education systems translate investment, teaching and learning opportunities into measurable skills. For African governments, the challenge is not simply to improve their position in future rankings, but to ensure that more children have access to the quality education needed to compete in a changing world.
Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.
