Making JSTOR more accessible worldwide
To improve access to knowledge and education globally, we provide free or very low-cost access to JSTOR through country-based savings and the JSTOR Access Initiative.
Country savings and JSTOR Access Initiative
As part of the nonprofit ITHAKA, JSTOR helps to ensure institutions in different economic contexts can access our scholarly content.
- Country savings provides adjusted pricing for institutions in countries with differing levels of economic and educational development. The program is intended to help support broad participation in the JSTOR community while maintaining a sustainable model for long-term access to scholarly content and services.
- The JSTOR Access Initiative (JAI) expands global access to knowledge by providing free or reduced-fee access to JSTOR’s complete archival journals and primary sources collections for qualifying institutions.
How we determine eligibility
Country savings, JAI eligibility, and tier levels are determined using the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), a globally recognized measure published by the United Nations Development Programme. JSTOR assesses all countries based on HDI every 5 years.
HDI evaluates countries using indicators that include:
- Life expectancy
- Expected years of schooling
- Mean years of schooling
- Gross National Income (GNI) per capita
We use HDI because it considers human development more broadly than economic output alone, and provides a transparent, independently maintained framework that aligns with JSTOR’s mission of expanding access to knowledge and education.
Country savings and JSTOR Access Initiative eligibility matrix
| UN Human Development Index (HDI) level | UN HDI score | Country savings tier | JSTOR Access Initiative tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very high | .80 or higher | 0% | Not eligible |
| High | .70–.799 | 35% | Not eligible |
| Medium | .617–.699 | 50% | JAI Tier 3 |
| Medium/Low | .540–.617 | 50% | JAI Tier 2 |
| Low | <.540 | 65% | JAI Tier 1 |
Find your country savings and JAI eligibility
Select your institution’s country below to see your HDI score, savings, and JAI eligibility and tier levels. The information displayed is effective as of January 1, 2027.
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Understand how JSTOR’s equitable fee structure aligns to your needs. Tell us a bit about your organization, and we’ll match you with the right JSTOR access and participation options.