Fig 1. Mathematics anxiety (y-axis) as a function of gender equality (A) and mathematics performance (B) for different countries and economic regions in the 2012 PISA data set.

Each data point represents a national average for girls (red) and boys (blue); grey lines connect the two averages of each country. A: Although average national levels of mathematics anxiety were lower in more gender equal countries, the sex differences in mathematics anxiety were larger. B: Consistent with studies of individuals, average national levels of mathematics anxiety were strongly related to average national levels of performance, with higher performing countries having lower levels of mathematics anxiety. This effect was stronger for boys than for girls.