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

Iceland: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 46.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
46.1%
Change on year
up 30.9%
World rank
6th
of 59 countries
All-time high
46.1%
in 2023
All-time low
25.7%
in 1999
Years of data
12
1999–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Iceland, 1999–2023

010203040501999201120231999: 25.72001: 35.12003: 32.82005: 32.52006: 31.12007: 29.72008: 29.72009: 322011: 25.82021: 35.62022: 35.22023: 46.1

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

Iceland recorded 46.1% for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in 2023. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.

That represents a change of up 30.9% on the previous year and up 78.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Iceland peaked at 46.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 25.7%, in 1999.

That places Iceland 6th out of 59 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Business enterprise in Iceland, 1999 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1999 25.7%
2001 35.1% +36.5%
2003 32.8% -6.6%
2005 32.5% -0.9%
2006 31.1% -4.4%
2007 29.7% -4.4%
2008 29.7% +0.0%
2009 32.0% +7.6%
2011 25.8% -19.2%
2021 35.6% +37.8%
2022 35.2% -1.1%
2023 46.1% +30.9%

Iceland compared with similar countries

  • Iceland's 46.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.3%, 1.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
  • Iceland's 46.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28.6%, 1.6× the median. (35 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 25.7% 25.7% 25.7% 1
2000s 31.9% 29.7% 35.1% 7
2010s 25.8% 25.8% 25.8% 1
2020s 39.0% 35.2% 46.1% 3

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 3 Azerbaijan 52.1% compare
  2. 4 Uruguay 48.3% compare
  3. 5 Thailand 47.8% compare
  4. 7 Panama 44.9% compare
  5. 8 South Africa 41.4% compare
  6. 9 Iraq 39.8% compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More science & technology data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Iceland?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Iceland was 46.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 46.1% in 2023.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 25.7% in 1999.
How does Iceland rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
Iceland ranks 6th out of 59 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is up 78.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iceland 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-fte-business-enterprise/iceland/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-fte-business-enterprise/iceland/">Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Iceland</a> — Statizoid

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