Record number of universities submit data for World University Rankings

An unprecedented number of universities have participated in Times Higher Education’s data collection for the World University Rankings this year.

A record 2,858 institutions submitted data between January and March, a 7 per cent increase compared with last year. The universities are based across 133 countries/regions, up from 127 in 2023.  

Participation from Africa has overtaken that from North America for the first time; 285 African institutions submitted data, a 20 per cent rise since last year and the biggest increase of any continent. Universities in Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burkina Faso all took part for the first time.

Asia is still the most-represented continent, with 1,209 submissions (an 8 per cent increase).

Change in World University Rankings submissions by continent (2025 v 2024)

Angola is the country that has seen the biggest leap in participation, with 20 of the nation’s institutions submitting data, up from just one a year ago. Iraq, Ukraine, Turkey and India have also seen a rise in submissions of over 10.

The US, with 182 participating institutions is the most-represented nation, followed by the UK (162), Japan (144) and India (133). Turkey has also surpassed the 100-mark for the first time, with 111 universities taking part.

Data submission is open to all universities, but institutions will be ranked only if they teach undergraduates, produce research across a range of subjects and have published at least 1,000 research publications between 2019 and 2023, with a minimum of 100 a year.

THE’s data team are currently reviewing the submissions ahead of building the World University Rankings 2025, which will be published in October.

The data will also fuel THE’s 2025 Subject Rankings, as well as several regional and thematic rankings, including the Arab, Asia, Latin America and Young University tables, and the inaugural Interdisciplinary Science Rankings.

Last year, 1,904 universities were ranked in the World University Rankings, with a further 769 institutions listed as reporters, meaning that they provided data but did not meet THE’s eligibility criteria to receive a rank.

The World University Rankings 2025 will be exclusively revealed at THE’s World Academic Summit 2024, taking place 7-9 October in Manchester, UK.