Latin America University Rankings 2022: countries on the rise

Browse the Latin America University Rankings 2022 results

The average overall score for Brazil has increased over the past five years from 54.3 in 2018 to 60.1 in 2022, based on the universities that participate in the rankings in each of the past five years. This is an 11 per cent increase, the steepest rise of all the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean with five or more universities ranked.

Chile also saw a rise in average score from 50.1 in 2018 to 52.7 in 2022. Colombia’s average score also rose, from 40.1 to 41.4.

Mexico, on the other hand, saw a drop in average score from 43.7 to 42.6 based on the 18 universities that were ranked in each year. Mexico’s research income to staff ratio was the metric that had the biggest negative impact on the average score, followed by academic papers to staff ratio. On the positive side, the country’s teaching reputation, citations and research reputation all improved.

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As these charts show, the rise in Brazil is largely due to an increase in score for citations, papers per academic and research reputation. The country did not improve on every metric, however. The average score decreased for PhDs awarded per staff, international co-authorship and international staff. The last may suggest Brazil has become a less attractive destination for academics.

Chile, on the other hand, is let down by its ratio of papers to staff and international students. Its score improved the most based on research reputation and citations, perhaps suggesting that even though the ratio of papers to staff has dropped, the quality of papers being produced has remained high.