PISA 2025: North Macedonia remains below OECD averages; mathematics falls

PISA 2025 results published on 8 September 2026 show that North Macedonia remains well below the OECD average across mathematics, reading and science, with a noticeable drop in mathematics compared with 2022 and little improvement in reading and science.

The national sample included 6,977 fifteen-year-old students from 124 schools, representing roughly 90 percent of the country’s 15-year-old population. Overall scores place the country under the OECD mean: science averaged 378 points (OECD average 482), reading 357 points, and computer-based problem solving 389 points.

Reading comprehension emerges as the most serious weakness: only 26 percent of students in North Macedonia reach the basic level of functional literacy, compared with 69 percent across OECD countries. Large shares of pupils struggle to distinguish fact from opinion, to synthesise information from multiple sources and to build evidence-based conclusions.

The sharpest decline since 2022 is in mathematics. North Macedonia’s average math score is 380 points, versus an OECD mean of 463. Just 32 percent of students achieve the basic level of mathematical literacy, compared with 65 percent in OECD countries. Only about 1 percent of students reached the highest proficiency levels in mathematics.

Digital skills, AI use and classroom distraction

For the first time PISA included a focused analysis of learning in the digital environment. The report finds a paradox: pupils spend substantial time on digital devices, and many use artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT for homework, summarising texts and searching information, yet digital literacy and algorithmic problem-solving remain low. Around 35 percent of students say mobile phones and other devices regularly distract them during lessons, and 33 percent report being hindered by classmates’ device use. The study links this digital distraction to a drop of roughly 22 points in science scores—comparable to nearly one lost school year.

The assessment also notes a widening gap between top and bottom performers from 2022 to 2025, with socio-economically advantaged students faring significantly better. Still, about 18 percent of pupils from vulnerable backgrounds show high academic achievement—above the OECD average.

Regionally, North Macedonia ranks among the weakest performers on the Western Balkans scale. In science the country scored 378 points, ahead only of Kosovo (357) but trailing Slovenia (484), Croatia (482), Albania and Montenegro (435 each) and Serbia (429). Reading places North Macedonia at 357 points, ahead only of Kosovo (341); Slovenia (445) and Croatia (453) score markedly higher, followed by Montenegro (418), Serbia (415) and Albania (408). The largest shortfall is in mathematics, where North Macedonia’s 380 points sit above only Kosovo (351), while Montenegro (411), Serbia (417), Albania (433), Croatia (455) and Slovenia (460) are ahead.

On the global leaderboard, Singapore and several East Asian systems again top the rankings. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Estonia and certain Chinese regions are listed among the highest-performing systems. Ireland is highlighted as the best-ranked EU country in reading, while Australia and the United States perform above the OECD average in several domains.

Photo: press material from the event