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

Portugal: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) was 52.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
52.4%
Change on year
up 5.1%
World rank
17th
of 65 countries
All-time high
52.4%
in 2023
All-time low
34.0%
in 1997
Years of data
27
1997–2023

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

02040601997201020231997: 341998: 35.31999: 36.52000: 37.92001: 39.22002: 40.82003: 42.22004: 42.12005: 41.92006: 43.52007: 44.82008: 45.52009: 45.52010: 43.62011: 43.52012: 43.52013: 45.22014: 52.32015: 51.12016: 51.22017: 50.42018: 50.72019: 50.52020: 49.32021: 50.62022: 49.82023: 52.4

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Portugal is 52.4%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.

The figure is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Portugal peaked at 52.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 34.0%, in 1997.

Portugal ranks 17th of 65 countries on this measure, in the top 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 Portugal, year by year

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Private non-profit in Portugal, 1997 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1997 34.0%
1998 35.3% +3.8%
1999 36.5% +3.6%
2000 37.9% +3.9%
2001 39.2% +3.2%
2002 40.8% +4.2%
2003 42.2% +3.3%
2004 42.1% -0.3%
2005 41.9% -0.3%
2006 43.5% +3.8%
2007 44.8% +2.9%
2008 45.5% +1.7%
2009 45.5% -0.2%
2010 43.6% -4.0%
2011 43.5% -0.3%
2012 43.5% +0.1%
2013 45.2% +3.9%
2014 52.3% +15.7%
2015 51.1% -2.3%
2016 51.2% +0.2%
2017 50.4% -1.5%
2018 50.7% +0.5%
2019 50.5% -0.3%
2020 49.3% -2.3%
2021 50.6% +2.6%
2022 49.8% -1.5%
2023 52.4% +5.1%

Portugal compared with similar countries

  • Portugal's 52.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 47.9%, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
  • Portugal's 52.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 47.4%, 1.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 35.3% 34.0% 36.5% 3
2000s 42.3% 37.9% 45.5% 10
2010s 48.2% 43.5% 52.3% 10
2020s 50.5% 49.3% 52.4% 4

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 14 Philippines 55.2% compare
  2. 15 Argentina 54.5% compare
  3. 16 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 52.5% compare
  4. 18 Belgium 50.9% compare
  5. 19 Spain 50.4% compare
  6. 20 Austria 50.4% compare

See the full ranking of 65 places →

More science & technology data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Portugal?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in Portugal was 52.4% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 52.4% in 2023.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 34.0% in 1997.
How does Portugal rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc)?
Portugal ranks 17th out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Portugal 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-hc-private-non-profit/portugal/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-hc-private-non-profit/portugal/">Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in Portugal</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Private non-profit
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
65 places, 955 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release