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

Spain: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 31.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
31.2%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
26th
of 59 countries
All-time high
32.2%
in 2019
All-time low
17.6%
in 1997
Years of data
25
1997–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Spain, 1997–2023

01020301997201020231997: 17.61999: 19.82001: 192002: 262003: 26.72004: 27.32005: 27.22006: 28.22007: 29.12008: 29.32009: 29.82010: 29.92011: 30.22012: 30.22013: 31.12014: 30.92015: 312016: 30.62017: 31.32018: 31.52019: 32.22020: 31.72021: 31.62022: 312023: 31.2

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Spain stood at 31.2%.

The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Spain peaked at 32.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 17.6%, in 1997.

That places Spain 26th out of 59 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Business enterprise in Spain, 1997 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1997 17.6%
1999 19.8% +12.3%
2001 19.0% -3.6%
2002 26.0% +36.7%
2003 26.7% +2.6%
2004 27.3% +2.3%
2005 27.2% -0.4%
2006 28.2% +3.5%
2007 29.1% +3.4%
2008 29.3% +0.7%
2009 29.8% +1.7%
2010 29.9% +0.3%
2011 30.2% +0.7%
2012 30.2% +0.3%
2013 31.1% +3.0%
2014 30.9% -0.8%
2015 31.0% +0.2%
2016 30.6% -1.1%
2017 31.3% +2.1%
2018 31.5% +0.7%
2019 32.2% +2.3%
2020 31.7% -1.4%
2021 31.6% -0.5%
2022 31.0% -1.9%
2023 31.2% +0.8%

Spain compared with similar countries

  • Spain's 31.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.3%, 1.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
  • Spain's 31.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28.6%, 1.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Spain changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2002 +36.7% 19.0% 26.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 18.7% 17.6% 19.8% 2
2000s 27.0% 19.0% 29.8% 9
2010s 30.9% 29.9% 32.2% 10
2020s 31.4% 31.0% 31.7% 4

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 23 Croatia 32.9% compare
  2. 24 Cyprus 32.2% compare
  3. 25 Romania 31.2% compare
  4. 27 Greece 31.1% compare
  5. 28 Tunisia 30.0% compare
  6. 29 Portugal 29.9% compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More science & technology data for Spain

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Spain?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Spain was 31.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Spain?
The highest recorded value was 32.2% in 2019.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 17.6% in 1997.
How does Spain rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
Spain ranks 26th out of 59 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) rising or falling in Spain?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Spain 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 Spain. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-fte-business-enterprise/spain/

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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