Inequalities in higher education participation and attainment exist in all countries where data is available, with students from higher socioeconomic groups at least twice as likely to participate and complete university compared to their peers from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
‘Drawing the Global Access Map 2: Understanding higher education inequality across the world’ is the most comprehensive study to date mapping inequalities in higher education participation and attainment across the world. Produced by the World Access to Higher Education Network (WAHEN), this report draws on data from over 200 countries. It shows that:
- Gender equality in higher education remains a global challenge, with only around a dozen countries having achieved parity in higher education access and attainment.
- Both gender and socioeconomic inequalities show only a moderate link with national income, suggesting that cultural and policy factors also play a substantial role.
- Progress has been made over time, but gains are fragile and uneven. Gender parity has worsened in a significant number of countries in the world, and socioeconomic inequalities are only diminishing in around half of the countries where we have data.
This report makes the case for concerted, systematic global action to address gender disparities and to increase participation and attainment of those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and other characteristics associated with under-representation or under-achievement. Key recommendations include:
- UNESCO should consider reviewing the wording of Sustainable Development Goal 4.3 to explicitly include socioeconomic background and gender.
- Governments should set national targets for higher education access and attainment by socioeconomic background.
- Regional agencies across the world should convene constituent countries to share knowledge/data, policies and practices in equitable access and success.
It also urges university representative bodies and international organisations to prioritise equity in their advocacy and data efforts. The ‘Drawing the Global Access Map 2’ report, supported by the Lumina Foundation, is released to mark the World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED) 2025. WAHED is a global initiative coordinated by WAHEN, bringing together universities, colleges and organisations worldwide to promote equitable access to higher education.
The Director of WAHEN and lead author of the report, Professor Graeme Atherton, states:
“This report shows the extent of the challenge we face in making higher education across the world more equitable. We are at a critical stage for higher education across the world and we must prioritise opening systems for it to remain relevant in the early 21st century.”
Please find the full report here.