Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Estonia

Estonia: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 25.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
25.8%
Change on year
up 14.0%
World rank
40th
of 59 countries
All-time high
35.6%
in 1999
All-time low
22.1%
in 2008
Years of data
26
1998–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Estonia, 1998–2023

0102030401998201020231998: 31.31999: 35.62000: 32.52001: 28.22002: 23.72003: 23.82004: 23.92005: 25.92006: 25.62007: 30.22008: 22.12009: 27.62010: 28.22011: 28.82012: 29.32013: 29.42014: 29.52015: 29.92016: 27.22017: 26.72018: 27.72019: 26.52020: 26.92021: 24.62022: 22.62023: 25.8

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Estonia stood at 25.8%.

That represents a change of up 14.0% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Estonia peaked at 35.6% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 22.1%, in 2008.

That places Estonia 40th out of 59 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Estonia, year by year

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Business enterprise in Estonia, 1998 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1998 31.3%
1999 35.6% +13.9%
2000 32.5% -8.8%
2001 28.2% -13.1%
2002 23.7% -16.0%
2003 23.8% +0.2%
2004 23.9% +0.6%
2005 25.9% +8.5%
2006 25.6% -1.4%
2007 30.2% +18.0%
2008 22.1% -26.6%
2009 27.6% +24.5%
2010 28.2% +2.4%
2011 28.8% +2.0%
2012 29.3% +1.7%
2013 29.4% +0.5%
2014 29.5% +0.2%
2015 29.9% +1.5%
2016 27.2% -9.3%
2017 26.7% -1.7%
2018 27.7% +3.7%
2019 26.5% -4.2%
2020 26.9% +1.5%
2021 24.6% -8.5%
2022 22.6% -8.1%
2023 25.8% +14.0%

Estonia compared with similar countries

  • Estonia's 25.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.3%, 98% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
  • Estonia's 25.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28.6%, 90% of the median. (35 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 33.4% 31.3% 35.6% 2
2000s 26.3% 22.1% 32.5% 10
2010s 28.3% 26.5% 29.9% 10
2020s 25.0% 22.6% 26.9% 4

Countries ranked near Estonia

  1. 37 Chile 27.9% compare
  2. 38 Saudi Arabia 26.9%
  3. 39 Sweden 26.3% compare
  4. 41 Malta 25.5% compare
  5. 42 Italy 25.4% compare
  6. 43 Macau, China 25.3% compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More science & technology data for Estonia

All data for Estonia →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Estonia?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Estonia was 25.8% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Estonia?
The highest recorded value was 35.6% in 1999.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Estonia?
The lowest recorded value was 22.1% in 2008.
How does Estonia rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
Estonia ranks 40th out of 59 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) rising or falling in Estonia?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Estonia data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Business enterprise. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Estonia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-fte-business-enterprise/estonia/

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About this data

Indicator
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Business enterprise
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
59 places, 881 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release