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

Italy: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) was 50.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
50.7%
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
37th
of 92 countries
All-time high
50.7%
in 2023
All-time low
36.1%
in 1998
Years of data
26
1998–2023

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

02040601998201020231998: 36.11999: 37.62000: 40.22001: 38.42002: 38.52003: 38.72004: 40.42005: 39.92006: 44.12007: 43.82008: 44.22009: 43.82010: 44.92011: 46.12012: 45.92013: 46.52014: 46.92015: 47.62016: 47.72017: 47.82018: 48.32019: 48.82020: 49.32021: 49.82022: 50.42023: 50.7

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

Italy recorded 50.7% for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in 2023. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 9.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Italy peaked at 50.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 36.1%, in 1998.

That places Italy 37th out of 92 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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) - Government in Italy, 1998 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1998 36.1%
1999 37.6% +4.4%
2000 40.2% +6.9%
2001 38.4% -4.6%
2002 38.5% +0.2%
2003 38.7% +0.4%
2004 40.4% +4.6%
2005 39.9% -1.4%
2006 44.1% +10.5%
2007 43.8% -0.6%
2008 44.2% +0.9%
2009 43.8% -1.0%
2010 44.9% +2.7%
2011 46.1% +2.5%
2012 45.9% -0.3%
2013 46.5% +1.3%
2014 46.9% +0.8%
2015 47.6% +1.6%
2016 47.7% +0.1%
2017 47.8% +0.4%
2018 48.3% +1.0%
2019 48.8% +1.0%
2020 49.3% +0.9%
2021 49.8% +1.0%
2022 50.4% +1.3%
2023 50.7% +0.6%

Italy compared with similar countries

  • Italy's 50.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 46.4%, 1.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Italy's 50.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 50.7%, 100% of the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 36.9% 36.1% 37.6% 2
2000s 41.2% 38.4% 44.2% 10
2010s 47.1% 44.9% 48.8% 10
2020s 50.0% 49.3% 50.7% 4

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 34 Slovakia 51.2% compare
  2. 35 Lithuania 51.0% compare
  3. 36 Norway 50.8% compare
  4. 38 Colombia 50.3% compare
  5. 39 Mauritius 49.6% compare
  6. 40 Romania 49.5% compare

See the full ranking of 92 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 50.7% 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 50.7% in 2023.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 36.1% in 1998.
How does Italy rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc)?
Italy ranks 37th out of 92 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 9.0%. 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) - Government. 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 13 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-hc-government/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Government
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
92 places, 1,481 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release