Mathema, a mathematics learning platform, has explored whether learning mathematics can support not only individual career goals for young people, but also technological development and alleviating poverty nation-wide.
To do this, the author analysed country-specific statistics that are publicly available online:
- The average mathematical competence score of 15-year-old students according to the results of the international assessment PISA for 2022 (PISA 2022 Results, OECP).
- Global Artificial Intelligence Index – global index of artificial intelligence development (TortoiseMedia).
- Average annual wage in USD (ОЕСР).
- Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (World Economic Outlook Database April 2024, IMF).
Mathematical Competence Level vs Global AI Index
According to the PISA methodology, the development of mathematical skills in countries around the world is defined by the concept of mathematical competence. It is a common standards-based indicator that measures students’ ability to reason mathematically, formulate, apply and interpret mathematics to solve real-life problems.
Figure 1. Mathematical competence level vs Global AI Index
Source: OECP, TortoiseMedia
According to the results of the PISA study in 2022, only 58% of Ukrainian students reached the basic level of mathematical competence. Ukraine received 441 points, which is 12 points lower than in the previous assessment cycle.
The average maths score for 15-year-old students in OECD countries was 472, indicating a gap of about a year and a half of learning mathematics between Ukraine and developed countries. Singapore (575) and Macau (552), a special administrative region of China, received the highest scores in mathematics.
At the same time, Cambodia (336) and countries such as Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, the Philippines, Panama, Jordan and Uzbekistan had the lowest mathematics scores.
Having compared the results of mathematical competence with the Global Artificial Intelligence Index by TortoiseMedia, we can see a strong correlation between the two indicators.
The lower a country’s AI capabilities are rated internationally, the lower the mathematical competence of its students is.
Thus, according to the fourth iteration of the Global Artificial Intelligence Index released on 28 June 2023, the above countries of the Global South with the lowest mathematical competence scores were not included in the rating at all. Notably, the country with the lowest mathematical competence indicators, which is included in the Global Artificial Intelligence Index, namely Morocco, is the least developed in terms of AI.
Figure 2. Mathematical competence vs. Global AI intensity
Source: OECP, TortoiseMedia
*For China, PISA 2022 results are only available for specific regions: Macau and Hong Kong.
**For Russia, PISA 2022 results are not available, so the graphs use preliminary data for 2018.
On the other hand, Singapore was not only No. 1 in mathematical skills, but also on top in terms of artificial intelligence development intensity (Figure 2). In terms of the overall index, which, in addition to intensity, is influenced by the scale of AI use in terms of the population size or the size of the country’s economy, Singapore ranked third, behind only powerhouses such as the US and China.
Mathematical Competence Level vs Average Salary
A less significant but still direct correlation is shown between mathematical competence and the annual salary of countries around the world. Mexico, Chile, Greece and Türkiye lag behind richer and more mathematically literate countries in both respects.
Figure 3. Mathematical competence vs. average annual salary
Source: ОЕСР
There are two clusters among the best-performing countries in terms of mathematical thinking: a group of high-income countries (Switzerland, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Australia) and a group of countries with average but also adequate salaries of $30,000–50,000 per year (Japan, South Korea, Estonia, Poland and the Czech Republic).
Mathematical Competence Level vs GDP per Capita
A similar correlation can be traced between the study of mathematics and the level of economic development of countries in the world, expressed in terms of GDP per capita. As in the case of the average annual salary, the group of countries with lower rates of mathematical competence has an “invisible cap” at a GDP level of no more than USD 20,000 per capita. The only exception to this barrier, with its PISA score of <400 in mathematics, was Saudi Arabia. It is clear that for the countries of the largest oil exporters, among which are the UAE and Qatar, learning mathematics and education in general are not the main reason for their wealth. Whereas for countries less endowed with natural resources, the prerequisite for achieving high levels of GDP seems to be a medium or high level of mathematical skills.
Figure 4. Mathematical competence level vs GDP per capita
However, high levels of mathematical competence do not guarantee complete eradication of poverty, given the experience of educated but not the wealthiest countries such as China, Russia or Vietnam. On the other hand, the vast majority of countries with a mathematics score of >460 can be classified as economically developed countries with high GDP per capita.
Conclusion
- Overall, a significant correlation has been found between the level of mathematical competence of young people and the intensity of artificial intelligence development at the global level.
- Singapore is No.1 in both mathematical skills and AI development intensity.
- East Asian countries, namely South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China (specifically, Macau and Hong Kong regions) are also among the undisputed leaders in mathematical competence and demonstrate high levels of AI development.
- If we take into account the scale factor in addition to intensity, the US is undoubtedly the trailblazer in AI. Although the level of mathematical knowledge among the US students is on par with the global average, keep in mind that higher education and income levels in this country are a powerful magnet that attracts the best talents coming out of the secondary education systems of other countries.
- Western European countries are the second cluster after East Asia with the best mutually reinforcing combination of mathematical knowledge and artificial intelligence development.
- Latin America, Africa and less developed Asian countries are clearly lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of both mathematical knowledge and AI technologies.
- There is a considerable correlation between the level of mathematical competence of school students and economic development, as measured by GDP per capita or average wages by country.
- Economically developed countries that are members of the OECD mostly had the best results in the PISA mathematics assessment in 2022.
- Relatively lower rates of economic development, despite a high level of mathematical knowledge, are observed in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe that were part of the Warsaw Pact.
- Exceptions with above-average mathematical competence and worse economic performance per capita include some authoritarian countries with a legacy of socialist education systems such as China, Russia and Vietnam.
- Developing countries with relatively lower levels of mathematical competence demonstrate low levels of GDP per capita (with the exception of oil exporters on the Arabian Peninsula).
- Although for the sake of accuracy, it should be noted that correlation does not always imply causation, the results and conclusions are in line with the mainstream theories of economic growth by Nobel laureates Robert Solow, Edmund Phelps, Paul Romer and others. Each of these scientists, based on more thorough research, was able to prove the significant role of education in enhancing economic growth through the labour productivity channel, as well as the existence of mutually reinforcing mechanisms between the development of education, R&D intensity and the economic well-being of nations.
As we can see, learning mathematics can indeed if not ensure technological progress and poverty reduction, than at least open up a window of opportunities and chances for a country to achieve economic prosperity.
