Efficiency of Higher Education Systems Toward Sustainable Development Goal 4: Cross-Country Analysis Based on a Bootstrap DEA Model

The global pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4 – Quality Education) highlights the need to improve the quality and efficiency of higher education systems. This study evaluates and compares the efficiency of higher education in 112 countries in relation to SDG 4 Target 4.3, using a bootstrap Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. Eight indicators were selected based on secondary data from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Bank. An output-oriented Bootstrap DEA was applied to account for statistical noise and provide more reliable efficiency estimates. The results reveal global disparities: high-efficiency countries demonstrate effective governance and resource use; medium-efficiency countries show varied results at all income levels; and low-efficiency countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, face structural and policy challenges. Several middle- and low-income nations outperform their wealthier peers, suggesting that efficiency is more related to governance than economic status. These findings support policies that enhance the contribution of higher education to sustainable development through both strategic frameworks and country-specific initiatives.