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

India: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 21.8% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
21.8%
Change on year
up 6.5%
World rank
65th
of 71 countries
All-time high
21.8%
in 2020
All-time low
10.4%
in 1998
Years of data
7
1998–2020

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in India, 1998–2020

051015201998200920201998: 10.42000: 132005: 16.32010: 15.52015: 15.52018: 20.52020: 21.8

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2020, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in India stood at 21.8%. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.

That represents a change of up 6.5% on the previous year and up 40.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in India peaked at 21.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 10.4%, in 1998.

India ranks 65th of 71 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Government in India, 1998 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1998 10.4%
2000 13.0% +24.6%
2005 16.3% +25.4%
2010 15.5% -4.6%
2015 15.5% -0.2%
2018 20.5% +31.8%
2020 21.8% +6.5%

India compared with similar countries

  • India's 21.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 33.2%, 66% of the median. (9 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 10.4% 10.4% 10.4% 1
2000s 14.6% 13.0% 16.3% 2
2010s 17.2% 15.5% 20.5% 3
2020s 21.8% 21.8% 21.8% 1

Countries ranked near India

  1. 62 Malta 32.6% compare
  2. 63 El Salvador 28.1% compare
  3. 64 Morocco 26.4% compare
  4. 66 Mali 20.1% compare
  5. 67 Pakistan 15.6% compare
  6. 68 Iran, Islamic Republic of 11.3% compare

See the full ranking of 71 places →

More science & technology data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in India?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in India was 21.8% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 2020.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 10.4% in 1998.
How does India rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
India ranks 65th out of 71 countries with data for 2020.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Government. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 7 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 India. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-fte-government/india/

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-government/india/">Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in India</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Government
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
71 places, 1,072 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release