About us
PAMA Global Abacus Mental Arithmetic Association is a non-profit federation of abacus and mental arithmetic schools, founded in 1999. Its Secretariat is in Taipei, Taiwan.
PAMA exists to promote abacus and mental arithmetic education. Learning the abacus builds a child’s concentration and helps them learn, and a skill shared across borders brings people from different countries together.
Members teach one syllabus, run one certification exam and meet once a year at the PAMA International Competition, held in a different member country each time. Mumbai, India, hosted the 21st in 2023; Malaysia hosted the 23rd in 2025. The 24th takes place in Moscow, Russia, on 26–27 December 2026.
- FoundedSecretariat in Taipei
- 1999
- Member countries24 member organisations
- 23
- CompetitionsHeld in member countries since 1999
- 23
- ContinentsAsia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, North America
- 5
Members
24 member organisations in 23 countries: Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Moldova, Palestine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam.
See the members directory →