April 2026: Girls Losing Ground: The Widening Gender Gap in Mathematics

Using data from TIMSS assessments between 1995 and 2023 at fourth and eighth grade, this brief investigates how gender gaps in mathematics achievement have evolved over time. While girls historically lagged behind boys in mathematics achievement, they had caught up in some countries. However, since 2019, TIMSS data reveals that the gender gap has been widening again. This brief explores the data and the implications of these findings.