By Our Correspondent

National News – UNESCO has revealed that women now outnumber men in higher education worldwide, according to its latest global higher education trends report released on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

The report shows 114 women enrolled for every 100 men in 2024, marking global gender parity progress but persistent gaps in sub-Saharan Africa.

It highlights rising enrollment from 100 million students in 2000 to 269 million in 2024, showing expanding access to universities across regions, while inequality in access, completion, and leadership remains a challenge.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organisation (UNESCO) report, covering 146 countries, details how higher education is expanding globally but unevenly distributed.

Central and South Asia achieved gender parity, while sub-Saharan Africa still lags behind.

Western Europe and North America show about 80% youth enrollment, compared to just 9% in sub-Saharan Africa.

Women also remain underrepresented at doctoral level and hold only about a quarter of academic leadership roles.

International student mobility has also increased from 2.1 million in 2000 to 7.3 million in 2023, though only 3% of students benefit globally.

Seven countries host half of all international students. Graduation rates rose modestly from 22% in 2013 to 27% in 2024.

UNESCO warns that funding pressures and AI adoption are reshaping education, yet only one in five universities has an AI policy.

Government spending averages 0.8% of global GDP, highlighting need for innovative funding models.

The findings underscore key global higher education trends including gender parity shifts, rising international student mobility, and widening regional inequality.

They also highlight the importance of education funding reforms, digital transformation, and AI policy development in universities.