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The United States maintain the absolute world hegemony as regards the perceived standing of their universities. With 149 universities or 29.8% of the top 500, and 17 among the 20 top ranked universities worldwide, the United States cast a long shadow over the world university elite.
Notwithstanding, the trend betrays a slow erosion of their supremacy, at the average annual rate of -0.8%. By contrast, China climbed from 9 universities in the top 500 in 2003, up to 28 in 2013 — an average annual growth rate of 12%.
The list suggests that the university world belongs to the economy heavy-weights. Most top universities are located in the wealthy North American and European countries. Latin America is represented only by the 4 biggest regional nations : Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico with a consolidated total of 10 universities. Africa is represented by only 4 universities in Egypt and South Africa. Southeast Asia, however, has a strong presence. The Chinese nation, upon consolidation of Hong Kong and Taiwan, places 42 universities in the list, or 8.4% of the total.
| Breakdown of top 500 universities by region | ||
|---|---|---|
Region | Number | Percent |
| Europe | 200 | 40% |
| North America | 172 | 34% |
| Australasia | 114 | 23% |
| Latin America | 10 | 2% |
| Africa | 4 | 1% |
| Total | 500 | 100% |
500 World-Class Universities by Nation — 2003 - 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | Nbr | % | |
| Argentina | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% |
| Australia | 13 | 2.6% | 14 | 2.8% | 14 | 2.8% | 16 | 3.2% | 17 | 3.3% | 15 | 3.0% | 17 | 3.4% | 17 | 3.4% | 20 | 4.0% | 19 | 3.8% | 19 | 3.8% |
| Austria | 4 | 0.8% | 5 | 1.0% | 6 | 1.2% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% |
| Belgium | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% |
| Brazil | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 5 | 1.0% | 6 | 1.2% | 6 | 1.2% | 6 | 1.2% | 7 | 1.4% | 6 | 1.2% | 6 | 1.2% |
| Canada | 24 | 4.8% | 23 | 4.6% | 23 | 4.6% | 22 | 4.4% | 22 | 4.3% | 21 | 4.2% | 22 | 4.4% | 23 | 4.6% | 22 | 4.4% | 22 | 4.4% | 23 | 4.6% |
| Chile | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% |
| China | 9 | 1.8% | 8 | 1.6% | 8 | 1.6% | 9 | 1.8% | 14 | 2.7% | 30 | 6.0% | 30 | 6.0% | 22 | 4.4% | 23 | 4.6% | 28 | 5.6% | 28 | 5.6% |
| Croatia | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% |
| Czech | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% |
| Denmark | 6 | 1.2% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% |
| Egypt | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | |
| Finland | 6 | 1.2% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 6 | 1.2% | 5 | 1.0% | 6 | 1.2% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% |
| France | 22 | 4.4% | 22 | 4.4% | 21 | 4.2% | 21 | 4.2% | 23 | 4.5% | 23 | 4.6% | 23 | 4.6% | 22 | 4.4% | 21 | 4.2% | 20 | 4.0% | 20 | 4.0% |
| Germany | 42 | 8.4% | 43 | 8.6% | 40 | 8.0% | 40 | 8.0% | 41 | 8.0% | 40 | 8.0% | 40 | 8.0% | 39 | 7.8% | 39 | 7.7% | 37 | 7.4% | 38 | 7.6% |
| Greece | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% |
| Hong Kong | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% |
| Hungary | 2 | 0.4% | 3 | 0.6% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% |
| India | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% |
| Iran | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% |
| Ireland | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% |
| Israel | 6 | 1.2% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 6 | 1.2% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 6 | 1.2% | 7 | 1.4% |
| Italy | 22 | 4.4% | 23 | 4.6% | 23 | 4.6% | 23 | 4.6% | 20 | 3.9% | 22 | 4.4% | 21 | 4.2% | 22 | 4.4% | 22 | 4.4% | 20 | 4.0% | 19 | 3.8% |
| Japan | 36 | 7.2% | 36 | 7.2% | 34 | 6.8% | 32 | 6.4% | 33 | 6.5% | 31 | 6.2% | 31 | 6.2% | 25 | 5.0% | 24 | 4.8% | 21 | 4.2% | 20 | 4.0% |
| Korea, Rep. of | 8 | 1.6% | 8 | 1.6% | 8 | 1.6% | 9 | 1.8% | 8 | 1.6% | 8 | 1.6% | 9 | 1.8% | 10 | 2.0% | 11 | 2.2% | 10 | 2.0% | 11 | 2.2% |
| Malaysia | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% |
| Mexico | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% |
| Netherlands | 12 | 2.4% | 12 | 2.4% | 12 | 2.4% | 12 | 2.4% | 12 | 2.4% | 12 | 2.4% | 12 | 2.4% | 12 | 2.4% | 13 | 2.6% | 13 | 2.6% | 12 | 2.4% |
| New Zealand | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% |
| Norway | 3 | 0.6% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% |
| Poland | 3 | 0.6% | 2 | 0.4% | 3 | 0.6% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 3 | 0.6% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% |
| Portugal | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 3 | 0.6% | 4 | 0.8% |
| Russia | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% |
| Saudi Arabia | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.2% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 3 | 0.6% | 4 | 0.8% |
| Serbia | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | ||||||||||||||||||
| Singapore | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% | 2 | 0.4% |
| Slovenia | 1 | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% |
| South Africa | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 4 | 0.8% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.6% |
| Spain | 13 | 2.6% | 9 | 1.8% | 9 | 1.8% | 9 | 1.8% | 9 | 1.8% | 9 | 1.8% | 11 | 2.2% | 10 | 2.0% | 11 | 2.2% | 11 | 2.2% | 10 | 2.0% |
| Sweden | 10 | 2.0% | 10 | 2.0% | 11 | 2.2% | 11 | 2.2% | 11 | 2.2% | 11 | 2.2% | 11 | 2.2% | 11 | 2.2% | 11 | 2.2% | 11 | 2.2% | 11 | 2.2% |
| Switzerland | 8 | 1.6% | 8 | 1.6% | 8 | 1.6% | 8 | 1.6% | 8 | 1.6% | 8 | 1.6% | 8 | 1.6% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% |
| Taiwan | 5 | 1.0% | 3 | 0.6% | 5 | 1.0% | 5 | 1.0% | 6 | 1.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 7 | 1.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 9 | 1.8% | 9 | 1.8% |
| Turkey | 2 | 0.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 0.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 2 | 0.4% | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% |
| United Kingdom | 42 | 8.4% | 42 | 8.4% | 40 | 8.0% | 43 | 8.6% | 42 | 8.2% | 42 | 8.3% | 40 | 8.0% | 38 | 7.6% | 37 | 7.3% | 38 | 7.6% | 37 | 7.4% |
| United States | 161 | 32.2% | 170 | 33.9% | 168 | 33.6% | 167 | 33.4% | 166 | 32.5% | 159 | 31.6% | 152 | 30.3% | 154 | 30.8% | 151 | 30.0% | 150 | 30.0% | 149 | 29.8% |
| Total | 500 | 100% | 502 | 100% | 500 | 100% | 500 | 100% | 510 | 100% | 503 | 100% | 501 | 100% | 500 | 100% | 504 | 100% | 500 | 100% | 500 | 100.0% |
Sources: see Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai.
