Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher in Estonia

Estonia: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher was 50.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
50.5%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
32nd
of 95 countries
All-time high
50.5%
in 2023
All-time low
39.1%
in 1996
Years of data
28
1996–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher in Estonia, 1996–2023

02040601996200920231996: 39.11997: 39.91998: 40.71999: 41.42000: 42.82001: 43.32002: 43.42003: 45.12004: 44.92005: 43.82006: 44.72007: 462008: 45.92009: 462010: 46.62011: 46.32012: 46.92013: 47.42014: 47.32015: 47.42016: 47.82017: 47.72018: 48.22019: 47.72020: 48.52021: 48.42022: 49.82023: 50.5

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in Estonia stood at 50.5%. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 6.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in Estonia peaked at 50.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 39.1%, in 1996.

Estonia ranks 32nd of 95 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher in Estonia, year by year

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher education in Estonia, 1996 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1996 39.1%
1997 39.9% +2.0%
1998 40.7% +2.1%
1999 41.4% +1.7%
2000 42.8% +3.4%
2001 43.3% +1.1%
2002 43.4% +0.1%
2003 45.1% +4.0%
2004 44.9% -0.4%
2005 43.8% -2.6%
2006 44.7% +2.1%
2007 46.0% +2.9%
2008 45.9% -0.2%
2009 46.0% +0.2%
2010 46.6% +1.5%
2011 46.3% -0.7%
2012 46.9% +1.2%
2013 47.4% +1.2%
2014 47.3% -0.3%
2015 47.4% +0.1%
2016 47.8% +1.0%
2017 47.7% -0.4%
2018 48.2% +1.1%
2019 47.7% -1.1%
2020 48.5% +1.8%
2021 48.4% -0.3%
2022 49.8% +2.8%
2023 50.5% +1.5%

Estonia compared with similar countries

  • Estonia's 50.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 44.5%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • Estonia's 50.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 47.2%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 40.3% 39.1% 41.4% 4
2000s 44.6% 42.8% 46.0% 10
2010s 47.3% 46.3% 48.2% 10
2020s 49.3% 48.4% 50.5% 4

Countries ranked near Estonia

  1. 29 Portugal 50.7% compare
  2. 30 Uruguay 50.7% compare
  3. 31 Ireland 50.5% compare
  4. 33 Sri Lanka 50.1% compare
  5. 34 Montenegro 49.1% compare
  6. 35 Panama 49.0% compare

See the full ranking of 95 places →

More science & technology data for Estonia

All data for Estonia →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in Estonia?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in Estonia was 50.5% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher recorded in Estonia?
The highest recorded value was 50.5% in 2023.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher recorded in Estonia?
The lowest recorded value was 39.1% in 1996.
How does Estonia rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher?
Estonia ranks 32nd out of 95 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher rising or falling in Estonia?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Estonia data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher in Estonia. 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-higher-education/estonia/

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About this data

Indicator
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher education
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
95 places, 1,486 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release