Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Italy

Italy: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) was 25.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
25.2%
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
58th
of 78 countries
All-time high
25.2%
in 2023
All-time low
17.5%
in 1998
Years of data
26
1998–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Italy, 1998–2023

01020301998201020231998: 17.51999: 17.52000: 18.52001: 192002: 19.12003: 19.32004: 19.52005: 20.32006: 19.52007: 20.52008: 20.12009: 20.72010: 20.52011: 20.82012: 21.62013: 21.52014: 22.32015: 23.12016: 22.32017: 21.52018: 21.82019: 22.62020: 23.22021: 24.42022: 24.42023: 25.2

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

Italy recorded 25.2% for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in 2023. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 17.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Italy peaked at 25.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 1998.

Italy ranks 58th of 78 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Italy, year by year

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Business enterprise in Italy, 1998 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1998 17.5%
1999 17.5% +0.1%
2000 18.5% +5.8%
2001 19.0% +2.7%
2002 19.1% +0.4%
2003 19.3% +1.0%
2004 19.5% +1.1%
2005 20.3% +4.3%
2006 19.5% -3.8%
2007 20.5% +5.2%
2008 20.1% -2.1%
2009 20.7% +2.9%
2010 20.5% -1.1%
2011 20.8% +1.4%
2012 21.6% +4.1%
2013 21.5% -0.7%
2014 22.3% +4.0%
2015 23.1% +3.3%
2016 22.3% -3.3%
2017 21.5% -3.5%
2018 21.8% +1.2%
2019 22.6% +3.6%
2020 23.2% +2.9%
2021 24.4% +5.0%
2022 24.4% +0.0%
2023 25.2% +3.2%

Italy compared with similar countries

  • Italy's 25.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.8%, 94% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Italy's 25.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28.8%, 88% of the median. (43 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 17.5% 17.5% 17.5% 2
2000s 19.6% 18.5% 20.7% 10
2010s 21.8% 20.5% 23.1% 10
2020s 24.3% 23.2% 25.2% 4

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 55 Sweden 26.2% compare
  2. 56 Malta 25.4% compare
  3. 57 Macau, China 25.3% compare
  4. 59 Slovenia 24.7% compare
  5. 60 Netherlands 24.2% compare
  6. 61 Poland 24.1% compare

See the full ranking of 78 places →

More science & technology data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Italy?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Italy was 25.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 25.2% in 2023.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 1998.
How does Italy rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc)?
Italy ranks 58th out of 78 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Italy data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Business enterprise. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Italy. 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-hc-business-enterprise/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Business enterprise
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
78 places, 1,249 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release