Women have surpassed men in global higher education enrolment, according to a new report from the UNESCO, although major regional and structural inequalities continue to shape access and outcomes.
In its first global trends report on higher education, UNESCO said that in 2024 there were 114 women enrolled in higher education for every 100 men worldwide. Gender parity has now been achieved in all regions except sub Saharan Africa, where participation gaps persist.
The report highlights significant progress over the past two decades. Global enrolment in higher education has more than doubled, rising from around 100 million students in 2000 to 269 million in 2024, reflecting expanding demand for tertiary education across most regions.
Central and South Asia recorded one of the most notable shifts, moving from just 68 women per 100 men in 2000 to parity by 2023. However, UNESCO warned that women remain underrepresented at doctoral level and occupy only about a quarter of senior academic leadership roles.
Regional disparities remain stark. While around 80 percent of young people in Western Europe and North America are enrolled in higher education, the figure drops to 59 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 37 percent in Arab States, 30 percent in South and West Asia, and just 9 percent in sub Saharan Africa.
UNESCO Director General Khaled El-Enany said the expansion of higher education reflects its growing importance in building sustainable societies, but warned that access does not automatically translate into equality.
He noted that funding constraints and uneven development are undermining quality in many systems, adding that governments spend an average of just 0.8 percent of global GDP on higher education.
The report also found that international student mobility has more than tripled in 20 years, rising from 2.1 million students in 2000 to about 7.3 million in 2023. However, only around 3 percent of all students globally benefit from studying abroad.
Just seven countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Canada, Russia and France host half of all international students, although emerging destinations such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are gaining popularity.
UNESCO further noted that private institutions now account for about one third of global enrolment, with the highest share in Latin America and the Caribbean at 49 percent.
Despite rising enrolment, completion rates have lagged behind expansion. The global graduation rate increased modestly from 22 percent in 2013 to 27 percent in 2024.
The organisation also raised concerns about refugee access to higher education, noting improvements in enrolment but persistent barriers around recognition of qualifications and missing documentation. Its Qualifications Passport initiative is being rolled out in several countries including Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.
UNESCO warned that rapid expansion, funding pressures and the growing role of artificial intelligence are reshaping universities, but only one in five institutions currently has a formal AI policy in place.
