Notwithstanding the enduring North American and European hegemony in academic performances, the trend betrays a slow erosion of the standings of western universities since 2003. Indeed, they have been losing momentum. Europeans lost 15 institutions, or a -0.52% average annual attrition rate, and North America lost 31 or a -1.3% average attrition rate. By contrast, China, not including Hong Kong and Taiwan, climbed from 9 universities in 2003, up to 45 in 2017 — an average annual growth rate of 12.18%. Taken together with Hong Kong and Taiwan, Chinese placed an additional 74 universities among the top 500 during the mentioned period.
500 World-Class Universities by Nation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|||||||||||||||
| Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | |
| Argentina | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% |
| Australia | 13 | 2.60% | 14 | 2.80% | 14 | 2.80% | 16 | 3.20% | 17 | 3.30% | 15 | 3.00% | 17 | 3.40% | 17 | 3.40% | 20 | 4.00% | 19 | 3.80% | 19 | 3.80% | 19 | 3.80% | 20 | 4.00% | 23 | 4.60% | 23 | 4.60% |
| Austria | 4 | 0.80% | 5 | 1.00% | 6 | 1.20% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 6 | 1.20% | 6 | 1.20% | 5 | 1.00% | 4 | 0.80% |
| Belgium | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% |
| Brazil | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 5 | 1.00% | 6 | 1.20% | 6 | 1.20% | 6 | 1.20% | 7 | 1.40% | 6 | 1.20% | 6 | 1.20% | 6 | 1.20% | 6 | 1.20% | 6 | 1.20% | 6 | 1.20% |
| Canada | 24 | 4.80% | 23 | 4.60% | 23 | 4.60% | 22 | 4.40% | 22 | 4.30% | 21 | 4.20% | 22 | 4.40% | 23 | 4.60% | 22 | 4.40% | 22 | 4.40% | 23 | 4.60% | 21 | 4.20% | 20 | 4.00% | 19 | 3.80% | 19 | 3.80% |
| Chile | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 1 | 0.20% | 2 | 0.40% |
| China | 9 | 1.80% | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% | 9 | 1.80% | 14 | 2.70% | 30 | 6.00% | 30 | 6.00% | 22 | 4.40% | 23 | 4.60% | 28 | 5.60% | 28 | 5.60% | 32 | 6.40% | 32 | 6.40% | 41 | 8.20% | 45 | 9.00% |
| Croatia | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Czech | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% |
| Denmark | 6 | 1.20% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% |
| Egypt | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 9 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% |
| Estonia | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% |
| Finland | 6 | 1.20% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 6 | 1.20% | 5 | 1.00% | 6 | 1.20% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 6 | 1.20% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% |
| France | 22 | 4.40% | 22 | 4.40% | 21 | 4.20% | 21 | 4.20% | 23 | 4.50% | 23 | 4.60% | 23 | 4.60% | 22 | 4.40% | 21 | 4.20% | 20 | 4.00% | 20 | 4.00% | 21 | 4.20% | 22 | 4.40% | 22 | 4.40% | 20 | 4.00% |
| Germany | 42 | 8.40% | 43 | 8.60% | 40 | 8.00% | 40 | 8.00% | 41 | 8.00% | 40 | 8.00% | 40 | 8.00% | 39 | 7.80% | 39 | 7.70% | 37 | 7.40% | 38 | 7.60% | 39 | 7.80% | 39 | 7.80% | 38 | 7.60% | 37 | 7.40% |
| Greece | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 3 | 0.60% |
| Hong Kong | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 6 | 1.20% | 5 | 1.00% |
| Hungary | 2 | 0.40% | 3 | 0.60% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Iceland | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% |
| India | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% |
| Iran | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% |
| Ireland | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% |
| Israel | 6 | 1.20% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 6 | 1.20% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 6 | 1.20% | 7 | 1.40% | 6 | 1.20% | 6 | 1.20% | 5 | 1.00% | 6 | 1.20% |
| Italy | 22 | 4.40% | 23 | 4.60% | 23 | 4.60% | 23 | 4.60% | 20 | 3.90% | 22 | 4.40% | 21 | 4.20% | 22 | 4.40% | 22 | 4.40% | 20 | 4.00% | 19 | 3.80% | 21 | 4.20% | 20 | 4.00% | 19 | 3.80% | 16 | 3.20% |
| Japan | 36 | 7.20% | 36 | 7.20% | 34 | 6.80% | 32 | 6.40% | 33 | 6.50% | 31 | 6.20% | 31 | 6.20% | 25 | 5.00% | 24 | 4.80% | 21 | 4.20% | 20 | 4.00% | 19 | 3.80% | 18 | 3.60% | 16 | 3.20% | 17 | 3.40% |
| Korea, Rep. of | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% | 9 | 1.80% | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% | 9 | 1.80% | 10 | 2.00% | 11 | 2.20% | 10 | 2.00% | 11 | 2.20% | 10 | 2.00% | 12 | 2.40% | 11 | 2.20% | 12 | 2.40% |
| Malaysia | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 3 | 0.60% | 2 | 0.40% |
| Mexico | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% |
| Netherlands | 12 | 2.40% | 12 | 2.40% | 12 | 2.40% | 12 | 2.40% | 12 | 2.40% | 12 | 2.40% | 12 | 2.40% | 12 | 2.40% | 13 | 2.60% | 13 | 2.60% | 12 | 2.40% | 13 | 2.60% | 12 | 2.40% | 12 | 2.40% | 12 | 2.40% |
| New Zealand | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 4 | 0.80% | 2 | 0.40% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% |
| Norway | 3 | 0.60% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% |
| Poland | 3 | 0.60% | 2 | 0.40% | 3 | 0.60% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 3 | 0.60% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% |
| Portugal | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 0 | 0.00% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 3 | 0.60% | 4 | 0.80% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% |
| Russia | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% |
| Saudi Arabia | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 3 | 0.60% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% |
| Serbia | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% |
| Singapore | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% | 2 | 0.40% |
| Slovenia | 1 | 0.20% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% |
| South Africa | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 3 | 0.60% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 4 | 0.80% | 5 | 1.00% |
| Spain | 13 | 2.60% | 9 | 1.80% | 9 | 1.80% | 9 | 1.80% | 9 | 1.80% | 9 | 1.80% | 11 | 2.20% | 10 | 2.00% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 10 | 2.00% | 12 | 2.40% | 13 | 2.60% | 12 | 2.40% | 11 | 2.20% |
| Sweden | 10 | 2.00% | 10 | 2.00% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% | 11 | 2.20% |
| Switzerland | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 8 | 1.60% | 8 | 1.60% |
| Taiwan | 5 | 1.00% | 3 | 0.60% | 5 | 1.00% | 5 | 1.00% | 6 | 1.20% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 9 | 1.80% | 9 | 1.80% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% | 7 | 1.40% |
| Thailand | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% |
| Turkey | 2 | 0.40% | 0 | 0.00% | 2 | 0.40% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 2 | 0.40% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.20% |
| United Kingdom | 42 | 8.40% | 42 | 8.40% | 40 | 8.00% | 43 | 8.60% | 42 | 8.20% | 42 | 8.30% | 40 | 8.00% | 38 | 7.60% | 37 | 7.30% | 38 | 7.60% | 37 | 7.40% | 38 | 7.60% | 37 | 7.40% | 37 | 7.40% | 38 | 7.60% |
| United States | 161 | 32.20% | 170 | 33.90% | 168 | 33.60% | 167 | 33.40% | 166 | 32.50% | 159 | 31.60% | 152 | 30.30% | 154 | 30.80% | 151 | 30.00% | 150 | 30.00% | 149 | 29.80% | 146 | 29.20% | 146 | 29.20% | 137 | 27.40% | 135 | 27.00% |
| Total | 500 | 100.00% | 502 | 100.00% | 500 | 100.00% | 500 | 100.00% | 510 | 100.00% | 503 | 100.00% | 501 | 100.00% | 500 | 100.00% | 504 | 100.00% | 500 | 100.00% | 500 | 100.00% | 500 | 100.00% | 500 | 100.00% | 500 | 100.00% | 500 | 100.00% |
Sources: see Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai.
