Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) was 41.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
41.1%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
64th
of 92 countries
All-time high
41.3%
in 2022
All-time low
22.2%
in 1999
Years of data
25
1999–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1999–2023

0102030401999201120231999: 22.22000: 22.72001: 31.82002: 31.82003: 32.22004: 32.92005: 33.92006: 32.32007: 34.62008: 352009: 35.32010: 34.42011: 33.42012: 35.62013: 36.92014: 35.72015: 37.82016: 38.12017: 38.22018: 39.62019: 392020: 38.72021: 38.62022: 41.32023: 41.1

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 41.1%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 11.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 41.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 22.2%, in 1999.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 64th of 92 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Government in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1999 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1999 22.2%
2000 22.7% +2.6%
2001 31.8% +39.8%
2002 31.8% -0.1%
2003 32.2% +1.4%
2004 32.9% +2.0%
2005 33.9% +3.2%
2006 32.3% -4.7%
2007 34.6% +6.9%
2008 35.0% +1.3%
2009 35.3% +0.9%
2010 34.4% -2.7%
2011 33.4% -3.0%
2012 35.6% +6.8%
2013 36.9% +3.7%
2014 35.7% -3.2%
2015 37.8% +5.8%
2016 38.1% +0.8%
2017 38.2% +0.3%
2018 39.6% +3.6%
2019 39.0% -1.5%
2020 38.7% -0.6%
2021 38.6% -0.4%
2022 41.3% +6.9%
2023 41.1% -0.4%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 41.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 46.4%, 89% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 41.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 50.7%, 81% of the median. (46 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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
2001 +39.8% 22.7% 31.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 22.2% 22.2% 22.2% 1
2000s 32.3% 22.7% 35.3% 10
2010s 36.9% 33.4% 39.6% 10
2020s 39.9% 38.6% 41.3% 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 61 Ecuador 42.2% compare
  2. 62 Czechia 41.8% compare
  3. 63 El Salvador 41.6% compare
  4. 65 France 39.5% compare
  5. 66 Switzerland 39.4% compare
  6. 67 Germany 38.6% compare

See the full ranking of 92 places →

More science & technology data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 41.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 41.3% in 2022.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 22.2% in 1999.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc)?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 64th out of 92 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-hc-government/united-kingdom/

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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