Pathways to gender equity in Latin America and the Caribbean: A comparative analysis of trends in mathematics gender gaps using PISA data

Gender gaps in mathematics achievement vary significantly across countries and over time, with particularly large gaps disadvantaging girls in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This study examines changes in gender disparities in mathematics achievement among 15-year-olds across 10 LAC countries between 2006 and 2022, using PISA-OECD data. Employing a repeated cross-sectional design and fixed-effects models, we analyze trends and contextual moderators of gender gaps, including socioeconomic status (SES) and rurality. Results show that while boys continue to outperform girls in most LAC countries, the average gender gap narrowed over time in the region, mainly through improvements in girls’ performance led by Brazil and Colombia. Also, gender disparities are generally stable across socioeconomic quintiles and larger in urban areas, while mid-SES and rural settings exhibit smaller but still significant gaps. These findings highlight the complex intersection of gender, SES, and geography in shaping educational inequalities in the region. • Gender gaps in math achievement persist but have narrowed in some LAC countries. • Brazil and Colombia reduced gaps mainly by improving girls’ performance. • The SES gender interaction has inverted-U shape: gender gaps are smaller at mid SES. • In most countries, COVID-19 impacted boys’ and girls’ math achievement similarly. • Rural girls show the lowest achievement, but differences with their male peers are smaller.