Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Japan
Japan: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) was 12.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Japan, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Japan is 12.1%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Japan peaked at 12.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 2001.
That places Japan 76th out of 78 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5.5% | — |
| 2002 | 5.9% | +7.7% |
| 2003 | 6.6% | +10.8% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 6.5% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 6.8% | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 7.5% | +9.6% |
| 2008 | 7.1% | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 7.6% | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 7.5% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 7.6% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 9.1% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 9.6% | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 10.2% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 10.9% | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 11.6% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 12.2% | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 12.1% | -0.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 12.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.8%, 45% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Japan's 12.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.9%, 36% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.7% | 5.5% | 7.6% | 9 |
| 2010s | 8.7% | 7.5% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 10.9% | 12.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More science & technology data for Japan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 178.43 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.78 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 221.92 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 608.71 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 5.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.3 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 96,543 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0008 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Japan?
- Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Japan was 12.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.2% in 2022.
- What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 2001.
- How does Japan rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc)?
- Japan ranks 76th out of 78 countries with data for 2023.
- Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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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CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release