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

Spain: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) was 31.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
31.1%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
35th
of 78 countries
All-time high
31.6%
in 2019
All-time low
17.1%
in 1997
Years of data
25
1997–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Spain, 1997–2023

01020301997201020231997: 17.11999: 19.42001: 192002: 24.82003: 26.62004: 26.52005: 26.82006: 27.72007: 28.22008: 28.82009: 28.82010: 29.12011: 29.42012: 29.42013: 30.42014: 30.62015: 30.72016: 30.52017: 30.92018: 312019: 31.62020: 31.22021: 31.12022: 30.62023: 31.1

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Spain stood at 31.1%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Spain peaked at 31.6% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 17.1%, in 1997.

Spain ranks 35th of 78 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Business enterprise in Spain, 1997 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1997 17.1%
1999 19.4% +13.4%
2001 19.0% -2.1%
2002 24.8% +30.9%
2003 26.6% +7.3%
2004 26.5% -0.5%
2005 26.8% +1.3%
2006 27.7% +3.1%
2007 28.2% +2.1%
2008 28.8% +2.1%
2009 28.8% -0.2%
2010 29.1% +1.3%
2011 29.4% +0.8%
2012 29.4% +0.0%
2013 30.4% +3.6%
2014 30.6% +0.6%
2015 30.7% +0.2%
2016 30.5% -0.7%
2017 30.9% +1.5%
2018 31.0% +0.1%
2019 31.6% +2.1%
2020 31.2% -1.1%
2021 31.1% -0.6%
2022 30.6% -1.5%
2023 31.1% +1.5%

Spain compared with similar countries

  • Spain's 31.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.8%, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Spain's 31.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28.8%, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Spain 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
2002 +30.9% 19.0% 24.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 18.2% 17.1% 19.4% 2
2000s 26.4% 19.0% 28.8% 9
2010s 30.4% 29.1% 31.6% 10
2020s 31.0% 30.6% 31.2% 4

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 32 Croatia 31.6% compare
  2. 33 Romania 31.3% compare
  3. 34 Uganda 31.1% compare
  4. 36 Sri Lanka 30.7% compare
  5. 37 Portugal 30.6% compare
  6. 38 Colombia 30.3% compare

See the full ranking of 78 places →

More science & technology data for Spain

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Spain?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Spain was 31.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Spain?
The highest recorded value was 31.6% in 2019.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 17.1% in 1997.
How does Spain rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc)?
Spain ranks 35th out of 78 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) rising or falling in Spain?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Spain 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 Spain. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-hc-business-enterprise/spain/

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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