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 52.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
52.5%
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
16th
of 65 countries
All-time high
52.5%
in 2023
All-time low
36.9%
in 2006
Years of data
19
2005–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2005–2023

02040602005201420232005: 37.52006: 36.92007: 37.62008: 37.52009: 37.52010: 37.52011: 40.52012: 40.52013: 39.62014: 44.52015: 48.72016: 50.52017: 46.52018: 45.92019: 46.32020: 50.12021: 50.12022: 51.32023: 52.5

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 52.5% for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) in 2023. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.

The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 32.5% 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 52.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 36.9%, in 2006.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 16th out of 65 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 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) - Private non-profit in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2005 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2005 37.5%
2006 36.9% -1.8%
2007 37.6% +1.9%
2008 37.5% -0.1%
2009 37.5% +0.0%
2010 37.5% +0.0%
2011 40.5% +7.8%
2012 40.5% +0.0%
2013 39.6% -2.2%
2014 44.5% +12.4%
2015 48.7% +9.4%
2016 50.5% +3.7%
2017 46.5% -7.9%
2018 45.9% -1.2%
2019 46.3% +0.7%
2020 50.1% +8.3%
2021 50.1% -0.0%
2022 51.3% +2.3%
2023 52.5% +2.3%

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

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 52.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 47.9%, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 52.5% 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
2000s 37.4% 36.9% 37.6% 5
2010s 44.0% 37.5% 50.5% 10
2020s 51.0% 50.1% 52.5% 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 13 Uruguay 56.6% compare
  2. 14 Philippines 55.2% compare
  3. 15 Argentina 54.5% compare
  4. 17 Portugal 52.4% compare
  5. 18 Belgium 50.9% compare
  6. 19 Spain 50.4% compare

See the full ranking of 65 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 52.5% 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 52.5% in 2023.
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 36.9% in 2006.
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 16th out of 65 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 32.5%. 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) - Private non-profit. 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 17 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-hc-private-non-profit/united-kingdom/

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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