PARIS -- Asia outperformed the rest of the world in the latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey published on Tuesday by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Since 2000, the OECD has been evaluating the knowledge and skills of the world's 15-year-olds every three years through PISA test. More than 510,000 students in 65 countries and economies took part in the latest test in 2012, which covered mathematics, reading and science, with the main focus on mathematics.

According to the results of the survey, China's Shanghai took the first place, followed by Singapore, China's Hong Kong and Taipei.

"With high levels of youth unemployment, rising inequality and a pressing need to boost growth in many countries, it's more urgent than ever that young people learn the skills they need to succeed," said OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria during the launch of the report.

"In a global economy, competitiveness and future job prospects will depend on what people can do with what they know. Young people are the future, so every country must do everything it can to improve its education system and the prospects of future generations," he added.