Girls and boys even out in mathematics

But girls from countries where gender equity is more established are more likely to perform better on math tests, the report said.

“Stereotypes about female inferiority in mathematics are a distinct contrast to the actual scientific data,” said Nicole Else-Quest, psychology professor at Villanova University in the US, who led the study.

“These results show that girls will perform at the same level as boys when they are given the right educational tools and have visible female role models excelling in mathematics.” The finding that girls around the world appear to have less confidence in their mathematical abilities could help explain why young girls are less likely than boys to pursue careers in science and technology.

Else-Quest examined data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), representing 493,495 students aged between 14-16 years from 69 countries.