Macao students achieved outstanding results across four key assessment domains in the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), including science, mathematics, reading, and Learning in the Digital World (LDW), topping global rankings in LDW with a score of 572 points.

The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Tuesday published the global results of its PISA 2025. Following the release, Macao’s Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) held a press conference at its headquarters to present an analysis of the Macao Special Administrative Region’s (MSAR) performance.

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The international study surveyed 765,000 students across 91 countries and economies, representing approximately 33 million students worldwide. In Macao, 46 secondary schools took part, involving nearly 5,000 students, over 680 teachers, and almost 5,000 parents, according to a DSEDJ statement issued after the press conference.

PISA, launched in 2000, evaluates global education systems by testing 15-year-old students every three years in mathematics, science, and reading, with one primary subject domain emphasised in each assessment cycle.

DSEDJ Director Kong Chi-meng highlighted the city’s top-tier performance across all four metrics. In LDW, Macao secured the top spot globally with an average score of 572, with 53.7 percent of students achieving high-performance (“elite”) status – the highest proportion worldwide.

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In science, Macao scored an average of 541, ranking third globally behind Singapore and the Chinese mainland (represented by four participating provinces/municipalities: Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang). In mathematics, Macao also placed third globally with 549 points, trailing Singapore and the Chinese mainland as well. In reading, Macao placed fifth with 501 points, following Singapore, the Chinese mainland, China’s Taiwan region, and Japan.

Kong noted that local students excelled in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, demonstrating strong capabilities in integrating scientific enquiry, mathematical reasoning, and computational thinking to solve complex problems, alongside advanced programming and modelling skills.

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The region’s education system was also praised for educational equity, recording one of the lowest proportions of low-achieving students globally. Macao recorded the second-lowest rate of low performers in science and mathematics, the third-lowest in reading, and the lowest globally in digital learning.

Gender breakdown showed local boys outperforming girls in mathematics, science, and digital learning, while girls performed better in reading. The gap was narrowest in science, where boys led by just one point.

Kong attributed the results to recent government initiatives in artificial intelligence (AI) education. Key measures include embedding AI and coding into the school curriculum, funding AI experimental classrooms, building smart teaching platforms, and leveraging the Macao section of the National Smart Education Public Service Platform to share educational resources.

He added that digital learning in Macao has evolved beyond basic device usage into intelligent AI-assisted learning, significantly boosting student STEM literacy across the MSAR.