GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Maritime Industry Statistics

Maritime industry improves diversity, but significant gaps and barriers remain.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Women make up approximately 2-3% of the global maritime workforce

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Less than 1% of shipowners are women

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Ethnic minorities face a 20% higher unemployment rate in the maritime sector compared to the general population

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The average age of seafarers is 39 years old, with women generally younger, indicating potential for increased diversity in the future

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Maritime industry has less than 1% representation of people with disabilities

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Immigrant workers comprise about 20% of the global maritime workforce, highlighting the industry's reliance on diverse nationalities

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Around 15% of the maritime workforce identifies as part of racial or ethnic minorities, yet they face 25% more workplace discrimination

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Indigenous peoples represent less than 1.5% of the maritime workforce but face higher barriers to entry

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There is a 15% higher turnover rate among minority workers in maritime compared to non-minority workers, indicating retention challenges

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There has been a 20% increase in mentorship programs targeting underrepresented groups in maritime, but participation rates remain below 10%

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Maritime industry DEI initiatives have driven a 15% increase in recruiting from local communities, promoting social inclusion

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60% of maritime training programs lack specific DEI modules, limiting awareness and inclusivity

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Only 2% of maritime leadership training programs are geared towards women, limiting advancement opportunities

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Marine education programs that incorporate DEI topics have increased student diversity by 12%, but still lack comprehensive curricula

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Gender diversity initiatives have increased women's employment in maritime by 15% over the past decade

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Companies with higher gender diversity see a 30% increase in profitability, research indicates

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Female representation in maritime engineering is less than 8%, suggesting a significant gender gap in technical fields

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Seafarer mental health issues are reported 20% more frequently among women than men, emphasizing the need for inclusive support systems

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The representation of women on maritime boards has increased from 2% to 7% over the last decade, yet women still hold less than 10% of board seats industry-wide

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Only 5% of senior maritime management positions are held by women

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Female maritime survey respondents report a 30% higher barriers to career advancement compared to male counterparts

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The number of women in onboard leadership positions has tripled in the last decade, still accounting for less than 4% of total leadership roles

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The maritime industry has a workforce that is over 90% male

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The retention rate for women in maritime is 10% lower than their male counterparts over five years

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The percentage of maritime apprenticeships filled by women is only 4%, indicating underrepresentation in entry-level roles

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About 12% of the maritime workforce is over 50 years old, emphasizing the need for generational diversity

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45% of maritime companies report difficulty attracting diverse candidates, particularly women and minorities, due to industry perceptions

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Research shows that diverse maritime crews reduce communication barriers and improve safety, resulting in 18% fewer accidents

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70% of maritime companies are actively working towards DEI policies, but only 30% have implemented measurable changes

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Only 3% of maritime research funding is allocated to diversity initiatives, despite the need for inclusive growth

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40% of maritime companies lack clear policies on harassment and discrimination, which hampers diversity efforts

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65% of maritime companies agree that increasing diversity improves team performance, yet fewer than half have concrete diversity metrics

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The incidence of sexual harassment reports in maritime workplaces is 35% lower in companies with robust DEI policies

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Companies implementing gender-balanced hiring practices report a 25% decrease in turnover rates among female employees

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DEI awareness among maritime executives has increased by 40% over the past 4 years, yet operational changes lag behind

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The maritime industry’s adoption of inclusive technology (such as accessible maritime software) is only at 10%, indicating significant room for growth

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80% of maritime industry leaders agree that DEI initiatives are essential for future industry resilience, yet only 35% have comprehensive DEI strategies

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The number of maritime companies with formal DEI policies has doubled over the past five years, yet compliance and execution remain inconsistent

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Only about 10% of maritime awards and recognitions focus specifically on diversity and inclusion achievements, indicating underrecognition

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Companies with high DEI scores tend to have 33% higher employee engagement scores, according to recent surveys

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Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 2-3% of the global maritime workforce
Less than 1% of shipowners are women
The maritime industry has a workforce that is over 90% male
Ethnic minorities face a 20% higher unemployment rate in the maritime sector compared to the general population
Gender diversity initiatives have increased women's employment in maritime by 15% over the past decade
Only 5% of senior maritime management positions are held by women
The average age of seafarers is 39 years old, with women generally younger, indicating potential for increased diversity in the future
70% of maritime companies are actively working towards DEI policies, but only 30% have implemented measurable changes
Maritime industry has less than 1% representation of people with disabilities
Immigrant workers comprise about 20% of the global maritime workforce, highlighting the industry's reliance on diverse nationalities
The retention rate for women in maritime is 10% lower than their male counterparts over five years
60% of maritime training programs lack specific DEI modules, limiting awareness and inclusivity
Companies with higher gender diversity see a 30% increase in profitability, research indicates

Despite the maritime industry’s vital role in global trade, women and minorities remain dramatically underrepresented—comprising just 2-3% of the workforce—highlighting a pressing need for more inclusive policies and measurable efforts to steer the sector toward true diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Demographics and Minority Representation

Women make up approximately 2-3% of the global maritime workforce
Less than 1% of shipowners are women
Ethnic minorities face a 20% higher unemployment rate in the maritime sector compared to the general population
The average age of seafarers is 39 years old, with women generally younger, indicating potential for increased diversity in the future
Maritime industry has less than 1% representation of people with disabilities
Immigrant workers comprise about 20% of the global maritime workforce, highlighting the industry's reliance on diverse nationalities
Around 15% of the maritime workforce identifies as part of racial or ethnic minorities, yet they face 25% more workplace discrimination
Indigenous peoples represent less than 1.5% of the maritime workforce but face higher barriers to entry
There is a 15% higher turnover rate among minority workers in maritime compared to non-minority workers, indicating retention challenges
There has been a 20% increase in mentorship programs targeting underrepresented groups in maritime, but participation rates remain below 10%
Maritime industry DEI initiatives have driven a 15% increase in recruiting from local communities, promoting social inclusion

Demographics and Minority Representation Interpretation

Despite an uptick in DEI initiatives and a young, diverse seafarer pipeline, the maritime industry's persistent gender, racial, and disability disparities reveal that it still sails far from true inclusivity, often navigating one-way tides of underrepresentation and discrimination.

Educational and Training Initiatives

60% of maritime training programs lack specific DEI modules, limiting awareness and inclusivity
Only 2% of maritime leadership training programs are geared towards women, limiting advancement opportunities
Marine education programs that incorporate DEI topics have increased student diversity by 12%, but still lack comprehensive curricula

Educational and Training Initiatives Interpretation

Despite some progress in diversifying maritime education, the startling scarcity of DEI-focused modules and leadership training—especially for women—underscores that the industry still has a long voyage ahead before truly charting inclusive waters.

Gender Diversity and Workforce Composition

Gender diversity initiatives have increased women's employment in maritime by 15% over the past decade
Companies with higher gender diversity see a 30% increase in profitability, research indicates
Female representation in maritime engineering is less than 8%, suggesting a significant gender gap in technical fields
Seafarer mental health issues are reported 20% more frequently among women than men, emphasizing the need for inclusive support systems
The representation of women on maritime boards has increased from 2% to 7% over the last decade, yet women still hold less than 10% of board seats industry-wide

Gender Diversity and Workforce Composition Interpretation

While gender diversity initiatives have notably boosted women's maritime employment and profitability, the persistent underrepresentation in engineering and leadership underscores that the industry still has a long voyage toward true inclusion.

Leadership and Career Advancement

Only 5% of senior maritime management positions are held by women
Female maritime survey respondents report a 30% higher barriers to career advancement compared to male counterparts

Leadership and Career Advancement Interpretation

With women occupying a mere 5% of senior maritime roles and facing 30% more barriers to advancement, it's clear that navigating gender equality in the industry remains a treacherous voyage requiring urgent corrective steering.

Women in onboard leadership positions

The number of women in onboard leadership positions has tripled in the last decade, still accounting for less than 4% of total leadership roles

Women in onboard leadership positions Interpretation

While a tripling of women in maritime leadership over the past decade signals progress, their still-minuscule 4% presence underscores that the industry’s final frontier remains uncharted territory for gender equity.

Workforce Composition

The maritime industry has a workforce that is over 90% male
The retention rate for women in maritime is 10% lower than their male counterparts over five years
The percentage of maritime apprenticeships filled by women is only 4%, indicating underrepresentation in entry-level roles
About 12% of the maritime workforce is over 50 years old, emphasizing the need for generational diversity
45% of maritime companies report difficulty attracting diverse candidates, particularly women and minorities, due to industry perceptions
Research shows that diverse maritime crews reduce communication barriers and improve safety, resulting in 18% fewer accidents

Workforce Composition Interpretation

While the maritime industry boasts the added safety benefits of diverse crews, its predominantly male, aging workforce and underrepresentation of women at entry levels reveal a sinking need for deeper commitment to inclusion, lest the industry's talent pool run aground.

Workplace Environment and Inclusion Policies

70% of maritime companies are actively working towards DEI policies, but only 30% have implemented measurable changes
Only 3% of maritime research funding is allocated to diversity initiatives, despite the need for inclusive growth
40% of maritime companies lack clear policies on harassment and discrimination, which hampers diversity efforts
65% of maritime companies agree that increasing diversity improves team performance, yet fewer than half have concrete diversity metrics
The incidence of sexual harassment reports in maritime workplaces is 35% lower in companies with robust DEI policies
Companies implementing gender-balanced hiring practices report a 25% decrease in turnover rates among female employees
DEI awareness among maritime executives has increased by 40% over the past 4 years, yet operational changes lag behind
The maritime industry’s adoption of inclusive technology (such as accessible maritime software) is only at 10%, indicating significant room for growth
80% of maritime industry leaders agree that DEI initiatives are essential for future industry resilience, yet only 35% have comprehensive DEI strategies
The number of maritime companies with formal DEI policies has doubled over the past five years, yet compliance and execution remain inconsistent
Only about 10% of maritime awards and recognitions focus specifically on diversity and inclusion achievements, indicating underrecognition
Companies with high DEI scores tend to have 33% higher employee engagement scores, according to recent surveys

Workplace Environment and Inclusion Policies Interpretation

Despite 70% of maritime firms aiming for diversity, only a third have measurable progress, reflecting that while industry leaders recognize DEI's value—highlighted by 65% agreeing it boosts performance—actual implementations lag, with just 10% employing inclusive technology and formal policies underperforming; thus, the industry faces a paradox where awareness is rising, yet tangible change remains vessel slow, underscoring the urgent need to navigate from rhetoric to reality.