Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 39.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
39.5%
Change on year
down 11.7%
World rank
56th
of 74 countries
All-time high
52.7%
in 2008
All-time low
39.5%
in 2023
Years of data
14
2005–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Costa Rica, 2005–2023

02040602005201420232005: 43.72008: 52.72011: 43.52012: 44.52013: 45.32014: 46.12015: 44.52016: 45.62017: 48.62018: 47.52020: 42.72021: 44.32022: 44.72023: 39.5

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Costa Rica is 39.5%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.7% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Costa Rica peaked at 52.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 39.5%, in 2023.

Costa Rica ranks 56th of 74 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Higher education in Costa Rica, 2005 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2005 43.7%
2008 52.7% +20.6%
2011 43.5% -17.5%
2012 44.5% +2.3%
2013 45.3% +1.8%
2014 46.1% +1.7%
2015 44.5% -3.4%
2016 45.6% +2.4%
2017 48.6% +6.7%
2018 47.5% -2.4%
2020 42.7% -10.0%
2021 44.3% +3.8%
2022 44.7% +0.8%
2023 39.5% -11.7%

Costa Rica compared with similar countries

  • Costa Rica's 39.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 44.3%, 89% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
  • Costa Rica's 39.5% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 48.9%, 81% of the median. (12 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 48.2% 43.7% 52.7% 2
2010s 45.7% 43.5% 48.6% 8
2020s 42.8% 39.5% 44.7% 4

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

  1. 53 Cyprus 40.7% compare
  2. 54 Oman 40.7% compare
  3. 55 France 39.7% compare
  4. 57 Hungary 39.3% compare
  5. 58 Germany 39.3% compare
  6. 59 Netherlands 38.7% compare

See the full ranking of 74 places →

More science & technology data for Costa Rica

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Costa Rica?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Costa Rica was 39.5% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Costa Rica?
The highest recorded value was 52.7% in 2008.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Costa Rica?
The lowest recorded value was 39.5% in 2023.
How does Costa Rica rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
Costa Rica ranks 56th out of 74 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) rising or falling in Costa Rica?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Higher education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Costa Rica. 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-higher-education/costa-rica/

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About this data

Indicator
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Higher education
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
74 places, 1,075 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release