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

Korea: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) was 29.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
29.7%
Change on year
up 3.6%
World rank
82nd
of 92 countries
All-time high
29.7%
in 2023
All-time low
8.4%
in 1999
Years of data
27
1997–2023

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

10152025301997201020231997: 9.11998: 8.71999: 8.42000: 10.62001: 10.32002: 10.92003: 11.12004: 11.62005: 112006: 13.52007: 16.72008: 162009: 18.42010: 20.12011: 22.12012: 23.12013: 24.22014: 252015: 24.92016: 25.52017: 26.12018: 26.52019: 27.22020: 26.22021: 27.82022: 28.72023: 29.7

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

Korea recorded 29.7% for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in 2023. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.

The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 22.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Korea peaked at 29.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.4%, in 1999.

That places Korea 82nd out of 92 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Government in Korea, 1997 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1997 9.1%
1998 8.7% -4.0%
1999 8.4% -3.5%
2000 10.6% +25.7%
2001 10.3% -2.3%
2002 10.9% +5.3%
2003 11.1% +2.0%
2004 11.6% +4.5%
2005 11.0% -5.4%
2006 13.5% +23.5%
2007 16.7% +23.7%
2008 16.0% -4.2%
2009 18.4% +14.7%
2010 20.1% +9.6%
2011 22.1% +9.6%
2012 23.1% +4.5%
2013 24.2% +4.8%
2014 25.0% +3.4%
2015 24.9% -0.4%
2016 25.5% +2.5%
2017 26.1% +2.1%
2018 26.5% +1.6%
2019 27.2% +2.5%
2020 26.2% -3.4%
2021 27.8% +5.9%
2022 28.7% +3.2%
2023 29.7% +3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 8.7% 8.4% 9.1% 3
2000s 13.0% 10.3% 18.4% 10
2010s 24.5% 20.1% 27.2% 10
2020s 28.1% 26.2% 29.7% 4

Countries ranked near Korea

  1. 79 Türkiye 33.7% compare
  2. 80 Uzbekistan 33.2% compare
  3. 81 Peru 33.1% compare
  4. 83 Saudi Arabia 28.5% compare
  5. 84 Morocco 25.5% compare
  6. 85 Japan 21.6% compare

See the full ranking of 92 places →

More science & technology data for Korea

All data for Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Korea?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Korea was 29.7% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Korea?
The highest recorded value was 29.7% in 2023.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 8.4% in 1999.
How does Korea rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc)?
Korea ranks 82nd out of 92 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) rising or falling in Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Korea 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 Korea. 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/korea-rep/

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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