How many universities are there worldwide? This is a topic worth exploring. As higher education becomes increasingly accessible and popular globally, the number of universities continues to grow. It is important to know the current situation and development trend of global higher education for people who have plans to study abroad and find jobs in universities globally. If you are also curious about how many universities in the world, read on to find your answer and delve into some interesting insights about the total universities in the world.
How Many Universities Are There Worldwide?
According to statistics, there are about 50,000 universities in the world. The number of universities is unevenly distributed among different countries and regions. India leads the world with the highest number of universities, boasting 8,140 institutions. The United States ranks second with approximately 5,762 universities, while China follows in third place with 3,167 universities and colleges as of June 20, 2025.
While India, the United States, and China are the top 3 countries with the most universities in the world, it’s not enough for those who wonder about the statistics of other countries in terms of how many universities in the world. To provide a broader perspective, we’ve compiled a detailed list of universities across other countries. Let’s explore them together!
| Country | The number of universities |
|---|---|
| Argentina | 1,709 |
| Brazil | 1,507 |
| Spain | 1,417 |
| Mexico | 1,343 |
| Russia | 1,306 |
| Bangladesh | 1,270 |
| Indonesia | 1,239 |
These figures reflect the scale of development and the degree of investment in education in each country. Moreover, the number of universities in the world is an estimate, and the actual number may vary as new universities are established and old ones are closed.
Top 100 Universities in the World
Compared to the question of how many universities in the world, you might be more interested in knowing which universities rank among the top 100 in the world. Globally, there are four widely recognized university ranking systems in the world, namely QS World University Rankings, U.S. News Rankings, THE World University Rankings, and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) published by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. We have compiled a list of the top 100-ranked universities in the world that all appear on these four university ranking systems.
| No. | University | Country | 2026 QS ranking | 2025-2026 US News ranking | 2024 ARWU | 2025 THE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | America | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2 | Harvard University | America | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | University of Oxford | Britain | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| 4 | Stanford University | America | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | University of Cambridge | Britain | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | University of California, Berkeley | America | 17 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| 7 | Imperial College London | Britain | 2 | 11 | 25 | 9 |
| 8 | California Institute of Technology | America | 10 | 23 | 8 | 7 |
| 9 | Princeton University | America | 25 | 16 | 7 | 4 |
| 10 | University of Pennsylvania | America | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
| 11 | University College London | Britain | 9 | 7 | 16 | 22 |
| 12 | Yale University | America | 21 | 9 | 11 | 10 |
| 13 | Cornell University | America | 16 | 16 | 12 | 20 |
| 14 | Columbia University | America | 38 | 10 | 8 | 18 |
| 15 | Tsinghua University | China(Mainland) | 17 | 11 | 22 | 12 |
| 16 | University of Chicago | America | 13 | 26 | 10 | 14 |
| 17 | ETHZ | Switzerland | 7 | 35 | 21 | 11 |
| 18 | Johns Hopkins University | America | 24 | 14 | 17 | 16 |
| 19 | Peking University | China(Mainland) | 14 | 25 | 24 | 13 |
| 20 | University of California, Los Angeles | America | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 |
| 21 | University of Toronto | Canada | 25 | 16 | 26 | 21 |
| 22 | National University of Singapore | Singapore | 8 | 20 | 68 | 17 |
| 23 | University of Michigan Ann Arbor | America | 45 | 21 | 30 | 22 |
| 24 | University of Melbourne | Australia | 19 | 30 | 37 | 39 |
| 25 | University of Washington | America | 81 | 31 | 18 | 25 |
| 26 | University of Edinburgh | Britain | 34 | 39 | 40 | 29 |
| 27 | Northwestern University | America | 42 | 24 | 33 | 31 |
| 28 | New York University | America | 55 | 32 | 31 | 33 |
| 29 | University of California, San Diego | America | 66 | 21 | 18 | 34 |
| 30 | Duke University | America | 62 | 27 | 39 | 27 |
| 31 | Nanyang Technological University | Singapore | 12 | 28 | 90 | 30 |
| 32 | University of Hong Kong | China(Hong Kong) | 11 | 37 | 69 | 35 |
| 33 | King’s College London | Canada | 31 | 36 | 47 | 41 |
| 34 | University of British Columbia | Britain | 40 | 41 | 53 | 36 |
| 35 | Zhejiang University | China(Mainland) | 49 | 45 | 21 | 47 |
| 36 | University of Tokyo | Japan | 36 | 84 | 28 | 28 |
| 37 | University of Sydney | Australia | 25 | 29 | 74 | 61 |
| 38 | Technical University of Munich | Germany | 22 | 79 | 47 | 26 |
| 39 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | China(Mainland) | 47 | 46 | 38 | 52 |
| 40 | Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne | Switzerland | 22 | 86 | 55 | 32 |
| 42 | McGill University | Canada | 27 | 62 | 74 | 45 |
| 43 | University of Manchester | Britain | 35 | 68 | 52 | 53 |
| 44 | Fudan University | China(Mainland) | 30 | 70 | 50 | 36 |
| 45 | Monash University | Australia | 36 | 35 | 82 | 58 |
| 46 | University of New South Wales | Australia | 20 | 34 | 77 | 83 |
| 47 | University of Texas at Austin | America | 68 | 65 | 45 | 50 |
| 48 | University of Queensland | Australia | 42 | 43 | 63 | 77 |
| 49 | University of Paris Sacre | France | 70 | 78 | 12 | 64 |
| 50 | University of Leuven | Belgium | 60 | 50 | 78 | 43 |
Top Hundred Universities: Distributions & Features
How many universities are in the world? According to the World University Rankings, the number of universities worldwide has grown from less than 5,000 in the 2000s to about 50,000 today. Especially in Asia, the number of universities in countries such as China, India and Japan has shown explosive growth. While the number of universities in Europe and North America is relatively stable, the number of prestigious universities in these regions is very large. Here, we try to analyse the distributions and features of global universities.
Geographical distribution of top 100 universities
Top universities in the world are distributed in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and other continents. Among them, North America has the most famous universities, such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Princeton University. The world-renowned universities in Europe include the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Paris. The number of universities in Asia has shown a spurt of growth, and the academic strength has gradually risen, like China’s Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Features of top 100 universities
Despite the growth in the number of universities in the world, there is a growing gap among universities in different countries and regions. When studying abroad, what international students first do is search for how many universities are in the world, and they often choose to apply for universities with a high ranking and excellent education. The top 100 universities always have significant academic strength, a supportive research environment, and comprehensive global development. Below are some features of the top 100 universities in the world.
- Complete education system
- Frequent academic exchange
- High degree of internationalization
- Tight ties with industries
- Well-equipped infrastructure and thoughtful student service
Top 50 UK Universities in the World
Based on these four highly authoritative world rankings, we’ve compiled a list of the top 50 UK universities in each of the four lists. Follow us to find out what they are!
1. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford, located in Oxford, England, is one of the world’s top public research universities. It has the longest history in English-speaking countries and is the second-oldest university in the world. Known for its academic excellence, deep cultural heritage and distinguished alumni, it is an important benchmark in the global academic community, attracting outstanding students from all over the world to pursue studies and research.
2. University of Cambridge
Founded in 1209 AD, the University of Cambridge is also one of the oldest institutions in England. Its history of more than 800 years has brought together scientific giants such as Newton, Darwin and Keynes, as well as literary and historical masters such as Bacon, Milton and Byron, which made it the world’s modern academic and cultural centre.
3. Imperial College London
Founded in 1907, Imperial College London focuses on four core disciplines: science, engineering, medicine and business. It is committed to equipping its students with the practical skills that are urgently needed by industry and business. It is particularly noteworthy that in the 2025 QS rankings, Imperial College made a big splash, ranking first in the UK and second in the world.
4. University College London
Founded in 1826, University College London is a member of the Golden Triangle of Universities and one of the G5 Super Elite Universities. With more than 13,000 staff and 42,000 students from 150 different countries, University College London currently has 12 faculties. Education and architecture are its strong disciplines. In the U.S. News ranking, UCL has successfully broken into the top ten.
5. University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and is a top public research university founded in 1583. The University of Edinburgh has the largest library in Scotland. In its more than four hundred years of history, the University of Edinburgh has trained many people who have made outstanding contributions to the development of human society, including biologist Charles Darwin, novelist Walter Scott and so on.
Conclusion
How many universities are there worldwide? Now you must have the answer. This huge number reflects the increasing education needs of students in the world. The distribution of universities varies significantly across different countries and regions. Some countries have many institutions offering high-quality education while others have fewer. With the improvement of residents’ quality and the rising investment in education, it is expected that the number of universities will continue to increase, providing more opportunities for people to upgrade their qualifications.
FAQ
Which country has most universities in the world?
India has the largest number of universities in the world. According to the latest statistics, India is ranked first in the world with its staggering 8,410 universities, a figure that not only shows the importance India places on education but also reflects its large population base and growing demand for higher education.
How many universities are there in the US?
According to data released by the U.S. Department of Education, there are approximately 4,773 colleges and universities in the United States as of 2025. Among them, there are 2,721 public universities, accounting for about 57%, while there are 2,052 private universities, accounting for about 43%.
What are the big 4 universities in USA?
According to the comprehensive ranking of four university ranking systems, the big 4 universities in USA are Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley.
Which US state has the most universities?
California has the most universities in the US. According to the latest statistics, California has over 600 higher education institutions, including public universities, private colleges, and research institutions.
What is the #1 university in the world?
MIT is the #1 university in the world, in terms of QS World University Rankings 2026 and the university has been the #1 university in the world for 12 consecutive years.
How many uk universities are there?
There are 295 higher education institutions and 130 universities in the UK. Among them, 106 universities and 5 colleges are located in England, which boasts rich educational resources.
Which country has the most top 100 universities?
The United States has the most top 100 universities in the world. The US has 26 universities ranking in top 100 QS World University Rankings 2026. The UK follows with 17 institutions, while China and Australia secure 10 and 9 top-tier universities, respectively.
