Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher 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) - Higher was 47.4% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
47.4%
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
40th
of 95 countries
All-time high
47.4%
in 2019
All-time low
41.9%
in 2005
Years of data
13
2005–2019

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2005–2019

010203040502005201220192005: 41.92007: 42.82009: 43.72010: 44.22011: 44.42012: 44.52013: 44.62014: 44.12015: 45.32016: 45.52017: 46.12018: 46.42019: 47.4

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 47.4% for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in 2019. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 8.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 47.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 41.9%, in 2005.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 40th out of 95 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2005 to 2019.
Year Value Change
2005 41.9%
2007 42.8% +2.1%
2009 43.7% +2.3%
2010 44.2% +1.0%
2011 44.4% +0.5%
2012 44.5% +0.2%
2013 44.6% +0.3%
2014 44.1% -1.2%
2015 45.3% +2.8%
2016 45.5% +0.4%
2017 46.1% +1.2%
2018 46.4% +0.6%
2019 47.4% +2.2%

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

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 47.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 44.5%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 47.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 47.2%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 42.8% 41.9% 43.7% 3
2010s 45.2% 44.1% 47.4% 10

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 37 Trinidad and Tobago 48.8% compare
  2. 38 Pakistan 48.1% compare
  3. 39 South Africa 48.1% compare
  4. 41 Poland 47.4% compare
  5. 42 Denmark 47.2% compare
  6. 43 Netherlands 47.2% compare

See the full ranking of 95 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) - higher in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 47.4% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 47.4% in 2019.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 41.9% in 2005.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 40th out of 95 countries with data for 2019.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.4%. 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) - 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-hc-higher-education/united-kingdom/

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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