Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Ireland
Ireland: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 48.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Ireland, 2002–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Ireland is 48.4%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in Ireland peaked at 50.0% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 38.5%, in 2004.
Ireland ranks 30th of 74 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 44.6% | — |
| 2003 | 43.2% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 38.5% | -10.9% |
| 2005 | 38.6% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 39.1% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 39.7% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 38.6% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 40.3% | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 41.2% | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 40.8% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 44.4% | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 44.6% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 44.8% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 44.8% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 44.8% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 50.0% | +11.8% |
| 2019 | 47.7% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 48.4% | +1.6% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 48.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 44.3%, 1.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 48.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 46.5%, 1.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 40.3% | 38.5% | 44.6% | 8 |
| 2010s | 44.8% | 40.8% | 50.0% | 9 |
| 2020s | 48.4% | 48.4% | 48.4% | 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 48.4% 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 50.0% in 2017.
- What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.5% in 2004.
- How does Ireland rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
- Ireland ranks 30th out of 74 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 18.6%. 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) - Higher education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release