Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Japan
Japan: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) was 17.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
17.1%
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
56th
of 65 countries
All-time high
17.3%
in 2022
All-time low
8.8%
in 2002
Years of data
23
2001–2023
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Japan, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Japan is 17.1%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and up 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Japan peaked at 17.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 2002.
That places Japan 56th out of 65 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8.8% | — |
| 2002 | 8.8% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 10.7% | +21.1% |
| 2004 | 10.2% | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 11.1% | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 11.8% | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 12.4% | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 12.5% | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 13.2% | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 13.5% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 13.7% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 14.4% | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 13.8% | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 14.1% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 15.1% | +6.9% |
| 2017 | 15.3% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 16.1% | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 16.9% | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 16.7% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 17.3% | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 17.1% | -1.7% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 17.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 47.9%, 36% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Japan's 17.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 41.3%, 41% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.0% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 14.4% | 13.2% | 16.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.0% | 16.7% | 17.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 53 Macau, China 23.4% compare
- 54 Bosnia and Herzegovina 22.2% compare
- 55 Mali 18.8% compare
- 57 Iran, Islamic Republic of 14.7% compare
- 58 Burkina Faso 12.9% compare
- 59 Azerbaijan 0.0% compare
- 59 Belarus 0.0% compare
- 59 Iraq 0.0%
- 59 Latvia 0.0% compare
- 59 Republic of Moldova 0.0%
- 59 Tunisia 0.0%
- 59 Ukraine 0.0% compare
More science & technology data for Japan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 178.43 (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.78 units per person (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 221.92 million (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 608.71 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 5.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.3 % change on previous year (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 96,543 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0008 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Japan?
- Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Japan was 17.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 17.3% in 2022.
- What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 2002.
- How does Japan rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc)?
- Japan ranks 56th out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Private non-profit. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release