Independent studies by these agencies paint a picture of growing disparities that begin in childhood and continue through higher education, despite decades of global progress in school and college enrollment.
An uneven record
Examining the relationship between economic inequality and child well-being in 44 OECD and high-income countries, the UNICEF report found that rates of income inequality and child poverty remain stubbornly high in most countries.
Children growing up in wealthier but more unequal countries face poorer physical health and academic performance, the report warns. In all countries studied, households in the highest 20 percent of income earn more than five times the income of those in the poorest 20 percent.
“Inequality profoundly affects how children learn, what they eat and how they feel about life,” said Bo Viktor Nylund, director of UNICEF’s Innocenti Center.
The report also links higher inequality to poorer health outcomes. Children in the most unequal countries are 1.7 times more likely to be overweight than those living in more equal societies – a trend associated with poorer diets and missed meals.
Poorer education prospects
The level of education also suffers. Children in the most unequal countries have a 65 percent chance of leaving school without mastering the basics of reading and math, compared to 40 percent in the most equal countries.
Within countries, the gaps between rich and poor students are just as stark. On average, 83 percent of 15-year-olds from the richest households learn basic math and reading skills, compared to just 42 percent among children from the poorest households.
UNICEF called on governments to strengthen social protection systems, invest in disadvantaged communities, improve school resources and provide nutritious school meals.
Expansion without equal opportunities
A separate UNESCO report examined global trends in higher education.
The study finds that the number of students in higher education has more than doubled over the past two decades, from around 100 million in 2000 to 269 million in 2024.
Yet this expansion has not translated into equitable access, the agency warned.
While around 80 percent of young people in Western Europe and North America are enrolled in higher education, participation falls sharply elsewhere – to 30 percent in South and West Asia and just 9 percent in sub-Saharan Africa.
Completion rates lag
Completion rates have failed to keep pace with enrollment growth. The global graduation rate has only increased from 22 percent in 2013 to 27 percent in 2024.
“This new report shows a growing demand for higher education, which plays an irreplaceable role in building sustainable societies. Yet this expansion does not always translate into equitable opportunities, highlighting the need for innovative financing models to deliver inclusive and quality higher education,” said Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO.
Modification of registrations
Women now outnumber men in higher education globally, with 114 women enrolled for every 100 men, although they remain underrepresented at doctoral level and in senior academic leadership positions.
The report, which includes new data from 146 countries, also highlights widening inequalities linked to cost and geography. Only a third of countries legally guarantee free public higher education, while many institutions face growing financial difficulties.
Public spending on higher education represents on average only 0.8 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP).
Increased international mobility
The number of students studying abroad has more than tripled over the past two decades, from 2.1 million in 2000 to nearly 7.3 million in 2023.
However, international mobility only benefits 3% of the global student population, with significant regional disparities, notes the report.
Seven countries – the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Canada, Russia and France – continue to host half of all international students.
Economic inequalities in rich countries are linked to poorer physical health and poorer educational outcomes for children.
Stronger cooperation is needed
UNESCO said stronger international cooperation and innovative financing will be needed to make higher education more inclusive and sustainable as student numbers continue to grow.
The report also warns that rapidly increasing enrollments are putting pressure on universities, highlighting the need to maintain the quality of teaching and expand access to disadvantaged groups.
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence are also reshaping teaching and learning, but only one in five universities had a formal AI policy in 2025.
A permanent inequality gap
Taken together, the two reports suggest that inequality creates disadvantages that accumulate over time – from childhood to adulthood.
Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to struggle in school, have poorer health, and face barriers to accessing and completing higher education.
Both agencies warned that without greater investment in education, health and social protection, economic divides risk widening from one generation to the next.
