Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 40.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
40.1%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
50th
of 71 countries
All-time high
40.2%
in 2022
All-time low
22.3%
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2023

0102030402000201120232000: 22.32001: 292002: 31.52003: 31.52004: 31.82005: 32.32006: 322007: 32.12008: 33.52009: 33.22010: 32.42011: 32.52012: 33.32013: 33.42014: 33.22015: 36.22016: 36.42017: 36.72018: 37.82019: 38.32020: 38.52021: 37.82022: 40.22023: 40.1

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 40.1%.

That represents a change of up 20.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 40.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 22.3%, in 2000.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 50th out of 71 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Government in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 22.3%
2001 29.0% +29.9%
2002 31.5% +8.6%
2003 31.5% +0.2%
2004 31.8% +0.9%
2005 32.3% +1.6%
2006 32.0% -1.0%
2007 32.1% +0.2%
2008 33.5% +4.5%
2009 33.2% -0.8%
2010 32.4% -2.6%
2011 32.5% +0.3%
2012 33.3% +2.5%
2013 33.4% +0.5%
2014 33.2% -0.7%
2015 36.2% +9.0%
2016 36.4% +0.7%
2017 36.7% +0.8%
2018 37.8% +2.9%
2019 38.3% +1.4%
2020 38.5% +0.6%
2021 37.8% -1.9%
2022 40.2% +6.3%
2023 40.1% -0.0%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 40.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 48.0%, 84% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 40.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 50.4%, 80% of the median. (37 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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
2001 +29.9% 22.3% 29.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.9% 22.3% 33.5% 10
2010s 35.0% 32.4% 38.3% 10
2020s 39.2% 37.8% 40.2% 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 47 Panama 41.5% compare
  2. 48 Ecuador 41.3% compare
  3. 49 Czechia 40.5% compare
  4. 51 Austria 39.1% compare
  5. 52 Hungary 38.1% compare
  6. 53 Chile 38.0% compare

See the full ranking of 71 places →

More science & technology data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 40.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 40.2% in 2022.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 22.3% in 2000.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 50th out of 71 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern 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) - Government. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 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-government/united-kingdom/

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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