This fact sheet presents the latest UIS S&T data available as of July 2011.

The gender gap in science

Women and men tend to take different career paths and the research field is no
exception. Overall, women account for a minority of the worlds researchers.

Despite the growing demand for cross nationally comparable statistics on women in
science, national data and their use in policymaking often remain limited. This document
presents global and regional profiles pinpointing where women thrive in this sector and
where they are under-represented.

The global map (see Figure 1) depicts the number of female researchers as a share of
the worldwide total. Researchers are defined as professionals engaged in the
conception or creation of new knowledge, products, processes, methods and systems,
as well as in the management of these projects (Frascati Manual, 2002).


Figure 1. The gender gap in science
Women as a share of total researchers, 2009 or latest available year
0%30%
30.1%45%
45.1%55%
55.1%70%
Data not available
70.1%100%
0%30%
30.1%45%
45.1%55%
55.1%70%
Data not available
70.1%100%
0%30%
30.1%45%
45.1%55%
55.1%70%
Data not available
70.1%100%
0%30%
30.1%45%
45.1%55%
55.1%70%
Data not available
70.1%100%

Note: Data in this map are based on HC, except for Congo and India (based on FTE).
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, July 2011.
WOMEN IN SCIENCE
U
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UIS/FS/2011/14 2
The vast majority of data are presented in headcounts (HC), which are the total number
of persons employed in R&D. This includes staff employed both full-time and part-time.
The regional averages (based on available data only) for 2009 are:
45.2% for Latin America and the Caribbean;
34.0% for Europe;
34.5% for Africa;
18.9% for Asia;
39.2% for Oceania; and
Unfortunately, there is no regional average available for North America due to a
lack of data.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate women researchers as a percentage of the total number.
Based on headcount data, these figures include part-time and full-time researchers.

Figure 2. A breakdown of female researchers in the Americas
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers,
2009 or latest available year
5
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UIS/FS/2011/14 3
Figure 3. A breakdown of female researchers in Europe
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers, 2009 or latest available year
5
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Figure 4. A breakdown of female researchers in Africa, Asia and the Pacific
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Note: +1 = 2010, -1 = 2008, -2 = 2007, -3 = 2006, -4 = 2005, -5 = 2004, -6 = 2003, -7 = 2002, -8 = 2001,
-9 = 2000, -10 = 1999, -12 = 1997.
* = Based on FTE data.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, July 2011.

Abbreviations:
FTE Full-time equivalents
HC Headcounts

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