Countries with Mathematically Proficient Populations: Is Indonesia Among Them?
Most people may dislike mathematics due to its difficulty to grasp quickly. Mathematics is also often considered boring because classroom delivery frequently focuses on memorising formulas rather than understanding logic.
However, many find mathematics enjoyable if the approach is contextual, interactive, and game-based.
This discussion is not about how enjoyable it is to understand, but rather about several countries whose populations are already proficient in mathematics.
PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), a ranking system for 15-year-old educational standards introduced by the OECD, has released the mathematical abilities of the world’s youth for 2025.
PISA assesses students’ abilities in mathematics, reading, and science. Its mathematical assessment goes beyond mere memorisation of formulas or procedures, measuring whether students can apply mathematical knowledge and reasoning to real-world problems.
More than 760,000 students participated in PISA 2025 across 91 countries and economic territories, representing approximately 33 million 15-year-olds worldwide.
China is represented by the participating jurisdictions of Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.
Here are the top countries with populations proficient in mathematics, particularly among the younger generation:
China leads by 49 points ahead of Singapore, while Macau and Taiwan rank third and fourth with scores of 549 and 546, respectively. Japan ranks fifth with 525 points, while South Korea and Hong Kong both achieved 522 points.
Estonia broke the dominance of the East Asian education systems by ranking eighth globally with a score of 508, placing it at the top among European nations.
PISA also found a correlation between excessive digital entertainment use and student learning outcomes. Students who spend more than four hours a day on digital entertainment activities outside of school tend to have lower mathematics scores and a weaker sense of community.
Conversely, moderate digital use is associated with better results in both measures compared to no use or very high use.
In today’s economy, mathematics functions like a raw material. Technology companies, AI laboratories, and investment banks all require workers who are comfortable with data and numerical models. Countries that fail to build these capabilities from the school level will face significant barriers when attempting to transition into high-value-added industries.
The absence of countries from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America from the top rankings highlights a long-standing issue. Weak basic numeracy leaves these regions lagging in technology and productivity, making a dependence on technology imports difficult to avoid.