UNESCO on Tuesday revealed that women now outnumber men in higher education globally.
According to a recent UNESCO report, which spans 146 countries, there were 114 women enrolled for every 100 men in 2024. While gender parity has been achieved in nearly every region, the report emphasizes that sub-Saharan Africa remains the notable exception to this trend.
The study showed a dramatic surge in total student numbers, which more than doubled from 100 million in 2000 to 269 million in 2024. Central and South Asia showed particularly striking progress, leaping from just 68 women for every 100 men at the turn of the millennium to full gender parity last year. UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany noted that this rising demand explained the “irreplaceable role” higher education plays in building sustainable societies.
According to the report, despite the gains in enrollment, the “glass ceiling” remains firmly in place within the ivory tower. UNESCO warned that women are still underrepresented at the doctoral level and currently occupy only about 25% of leadership positions in academia. These figures suggest that while the entry gates to universities have swung open for women, the path to the highest levels of research and administration remains fraught with obstacles.
The report also spotlighted a staggering “educational divide” between the Global North and South. While 80% of young people in Western Europe and North America are enrolled in higher education, that number plummets to just 9% in sub-Saharan Africa. Other regions fall in between, with Latin America and the Caribbean at 59%, the Arab States at 37%, and South and West Asia at 30%.
