Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Ireland
Ireland: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 25.3% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Ireland, 1999–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 25.3% for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.3% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Ireland peaked at 27.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 20.0%, in 2002.
That places Ireland 44th out of 59 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 20.5% | — |
| 2001 | 20.5% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 20.0% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 20.3% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 20.6% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 20.6% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 22.1% | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 23.5% | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 23.6% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 26.9% | +14.2% |
| 2010 | 26.9% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 22.8% | -15.3% |
| 2013 | 22.9% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 24.3% | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 25.6% | +5.2% |
| 2019 | 27.5% | +7.8% |
| 2021 | 25.3% | -8.3% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 25.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.3%, 96% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 25.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28.6%, 88% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.5% | 20.5% | 20.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 22.0% | 20.0% | 26.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 25.0% | 22.8% | 27.5% | 6 |
| 2020s | 25.3% | 25.3% | 25.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More science & technology data for Ireland
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 112.64 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.1 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 5.92 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 83.58 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 2.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 8,720 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0016 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Ireland?
- Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Ireland was 25.3% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 27.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.0% in 2002.
- How does Ireland rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
- Ireland ranks 44th out of 59 countries with data for 2021.
- Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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 — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release