Israel ranks fourth globally for top universities per capita
Israel ranks fourth globally for top universities per capita
Hebrew University, Technion, and Weizmann lead the charge in mathematics, chemistry, and engineering.
The prestigious Shanghai Ranking published last week its annual evaluation of the world’s top universities, including rankings by discipline, marking a relatively strong year for Israeli academia. The decline of Israeli institutions in computer science rankings has ceased, with the Weizmann Institute’s program re-entering the global top 100.
Hebrew University climbed to 14th place worldwide in mathematics, with three Israeli universities ranked in the global top 100 for the field. Additionally, the Technion and Weizmann Institute broke into the top 40 for chemistry, a field with considerable economic potential. Israel also excelled in communications and journalism, with Hebrew University and Haifa University ranked among the top 30. Overall, 11 Israeli academic programs are ranked in the world’s top 50.
This year also showed stability in general university rankings. After a period of weaker performance, three Israeli institutions remain consistently in the global top 100. The Weizmann Institute is ranked 69th, slipping one spot from 68th last year; Hebrew University improved from 86th to 81st; and the Technion, despite dropping from 79th to 85th, maintained its status as 11th among the world’s technological universities. Notably, these achievements come despite disruptions caused by ongoing conflict and significant military reserve duty among Israeli students and staff.
First published in 2003, the Shanghai Ranking evaluates research performance using criteria such as Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, publications in leading journals like Nature and Science, and other academic metrics. With a population of only 10 million, Israel’s high standing is remarkable. Per capita, Israel ranks fourth globally in the number of institutions in the top 100, trailing only Switzerland, Singapore, and Denmark, but outperforming larger nations such as France, Germany, the UK, and Sweden.
This year’s departmental rankings, particularly in technological fields critical to the "Startup Nation," brought mixed results. The Weizmann Institute, which fell last year to the 100–150 range in computer science, regained its spot in the global top 100. Ben-Gurion University and the Technion also showed improvement, while the University of Haifa entered the rankings for the first time. Hebrew University remains ranked between 401–500. However, these gains fall short of Israel’s peak performance in 2018, when Weizmann ranked 21st and Tel Aviv University 37th.
In mathematics, Israeli institutions continue to excel. Hebrew University climbed from 25th in 2020 to 14th, while Tel Aviv University and Weizmann are now ranked 45th and 46th, respectively. Back in 2020, only Hebrew University had a top-50 ranking in the field. Four additional Israeli universities appear in the top 500. The strong performance reflects Israel’s success in resource-light disciplines, which do not require expensive infrastructure.
This trend is also evident in communications and journalism. Hebrew University advanced from 30th in 2020 to 14th, while Haifa University improved from 42nd to 28th.
In chemistry, Israeli institutions have taken divergent paths. The Technion and Weizmann climbed to 32nd and 39th, respectively, after previously ranking between 50–75. However, other programs saw declines: Hebrew University is ranked between 151–200, while Tel Aviv and Ben-Gurion are in the 401–500 range.
Israel’s academic achievements extend across disciplines, with 11 programs ranked among the top 50 globally. Hebrew University stands out with top-50 placements in mathematics (14), communications (14), and law (42). The Technion also has three entries: chemistry (32), aerospace engineering (40), and electrical engineering (48). The Weizmann Institute has two: chemistry (39) and mathematics (46). Surprisingly, the University of Haifa, ranked institutionally between 601–700, has two top-50 programs: communications (28) and public administration (41). Tel Aviv University has one: mathematics (45).
However, Israeli academia continues to face challenges in other areas. In economics, four universities are ranked, but only Hebrew University is in the top 100 (51–75). Tel Aviv University is between 201–300, while Reichman University debuted in the rankings at 401–500. Business administration, historically absent from Israel’s academic strengths, remains unranked due to the inability to compete with the lucrative salaries offered by private U.S. institutions.
Some fields that once showcased Israeli excellence are now in decline. In 2021, six Israeli universities were among the top 200 programs in education, with Haifa ranked 51–75. Today, only Tel Aviv and Haifa remain, both ranked below 150. Similarly, the Technion, which was ranked 16th in aerospace engineering in 2020, has gradually fallen to 40th—still an impressive position but indicative of a broader trend.
Despite these fluctuations, Israel’s academic achievements remain significant, with institutions continuing to perform strongly across a range of disciplines. These rankings reinforce the country's reputation as a hub for innovation and excellence in higher education.
