While women now represent nearly half of all STEM undergraduate students in many countries, they remain a stark minority in the workforce and leadership roles, illustrating a persistent and profound global gender gap from the classroom to the C-suite.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, women accounted for just 35% of STEM bachelor's degree recipients in the US, compared to 59% in non-STEM fields
- Globally, only 30% of researchers in STEM fields are women as of 2023 UNESCO data
- In the EU, women earned 37% of STEM PhDs in 2021, up from 32% in 2015 but still lagging
- In 2021 US undergraduate STEM enrollment, women were 48% overall but only 22% in engineering
- Globally, girls represent 47% of STEM tertiary enrollment but drop to 35% in advanced programs per UNESCO 2023
- EU higher education STEM enrollment for women was 39% in 2022
- In 2022, women made up 28% of the US STEM workforce
- Globally, women are 33% of STEM professionals per UNESCO 2023
- EU women 25% of ICT specialists in 2022 Eurostat
- In US tech firms, women hold 25% of leadership roles in STEM 2023
- Globally, only 12% of AI researchers are women per WEF 2023
- EU women 18% of STEM corporate board members 2022
- US STEM attrition rate for women 52% within 7 years post-PhD 2021
- Globally, 50% of women leave STEM mid-career per UNESCO 2023
- EU female STEM dropout rate 38% from workforce in first 10 years 2022
Despite some progress, women globally remain significantly underrepresented in STEM fields and careers.
Degrees
1In 2022, women accounted for just 35% of STEM bachelor's degree recipients in the US, compared to 59% in non-STEM fields
Verified2Globally, only 30% of researchers in STEM fields are women as of 2023 UNESCO data
Verified3In the EU, women earned 37% of STEM PhDs in 2021, up from 32% in 2015 but still lagging
Verified4US women received 24% of engineering bachelor's degrees in 2020
Directional5In India, women comprised 43% of STEM graduates in 2022, highest in Asia per AISHE report
Single source6Australia saw women earn 28% of STEM master's degrees in 2021
Verified7In China, female STEM PhD holders reached 38% in 2020
Verified8UK women awarded 39% of computing degrees in 2022
Verified9Canada reported 40% female STEM graduates at undergraduate level in 2021
Directional10In Brazil, women earned 45% of STEM bachelor's in 2019
Single source11Japan had women receiving only 15% of engineering degrees in 2021
Verified12South Korea women got 29% of STEM doctorates in 2020
Verified13In Germany, 29% of STEM master's were awarded to women in 2022
Verified14France women earned 33% of math/science PhDs in 2021
Directional15In Mexico, 42% of engineering undergrad degrees to women in 2020
Single source16Italy women 34% of physics/astronomy doctorates in 2022
Verified17Russia had 48% female STEM bachelor's recipients in 2021
Verified18South Africa women 38% of STEM postgrad degrees in 2020
Verified19In Sweden, 35% of computer science degrees to women in 2022
Directional20Nigeria women earned 25% of engineering degrees in 2021
Single source21In the US, Black women received only 2.5% of STEM PhDs in 2020
Verified22Hispanic women 7% of US STEM master's in 2021
Verified23Asian women 12% of US engineering bachelor's globally benchmarked
Verified24In Australia, Indigenous women 1% of STEM PhDs in 2022
Directional25UK BAME women 15% of STEM doctorates in 2021
Single source26Canada Indigenous women 3% of STEM graduates in 2020
Verified27In EU, women 25% of ICT PhDs in 2022
Verified28Global South women 28% of STEM master's per UNESCO 2023
Verified29In OECD average, women 33% of science degrees in 2021
Directional30US women 21% of computer science PhDs in 2022
Single sourceDegrees Interpretation
The global STEM field is like a grand, unfinished symphony where half the orchestra is still waiting in the wings, a disparity made even more glaring for women of color, who are often stuck at the stage door.
Enrollment
1In 2021 US undergraduate STEM enrollment, women were 48% overall but only 22% in engineering
Verified2Globally, girls represent 47% of STEM tertiary enrollment but drop to 35% in advanced programs per UNESCO 2023
Verified3EU higher education STEM enrollment for women was 39% in 2022
Verified4In India, female STEM enrollment in colleges reached 42.6% in 2021-22 per AISHE
Directional5Australia women 45% of STEM undergrad enrollees in 2022
Single source6China female STEM university enrollment hit 49% in 2021
Verified7UK women 40% enrolled in STEM subjects at university in 2022/23
Verified8Canada women 52% of overall enrollment but 38% in STEM in 2021
Verified9Brazil female STEM enrollment in undergrad 46% in 2021
Directional10Japan women only 16% enrolled in engineering programs in 2022
Single source11South Korea female STEM enrollment 30% in STEM fields 2021
Verified12Germany women 35% of STEM bachelor enrollees in 2022
Verified13France girls 41% in scientific baccalaureates leading to STEM in 2022
Verified14Mexico women 44% STEM tertiary enrollment in 2021
Directional15Italy female enrollment in STEM degrees 33% in 2022/23
Single source16Russia women 55% of STEM university enrollees in 2021
Verified17South Africa female STEM enrollment 40% in 2022
Verified18Sweden women 42% enrolled in engineering in 2022
Verified19Nigeria girls 28% in STEM higher ed enrollment 2021
Directional20US high school girls 45% taking AP STEM courses in 2022
Single source21Hispanic girls 20% of US STEM college enrollees in 2021
Verified22Black women 9% of STEM enrollment in US unis 2022
Verified23In Australia, Indigenous girls 4% STEM enrollment 2021
Verified24UK ethnic minority girls 22% STEM enrollment 2022
Directional25Canada Indigenous women 5% postsecondary STEM enrollment 2021
Single source26EU migrant background women 25% STEM enrollment avg 2022
Verified27OECD countries average female STEM enrollment 40% in 2021
Verified28Global low-income countries women 25% STEM enrollment 2023 UNESCO
VerifiedEnrollment Interpretation
The global numbers show women are storming the gates of STEM in impressive numbers, yet the stubbornly persistent drop-off into higher levels and specific fields like engineering suggests the real battle is no longer about getting a foot in the door, but dismantling the coat check and cloakroom once we're inside.
Leadership
1In US tech firms, women hold 25% of leadership roles in STEM 2023
Verified2Globally, only 12% of AI researchers are women per WEF 2023
Verified3EU women 18% of STEM corporate board members 2022
Verified4India female STEM CEOs 8% in top firms 2023
Directional5Australia women 22% STEM executives 2022
Single source6China 28% women in senior tech management 2021
Verified7UK women 20% STEM senior positions 2023
Verified8Canada females 24% STEM managers 2022
Verified9Brazil women 30% science leadership roles 2021
Directional10Japan 10% women in STEM executive posts 2022
Single source11South Korea women 14% R&D directors 2021
Verified12Germany females 23% STEM C-suite 2022
Verified13France women 27% high-level STEM researchers 2022
Verified14Mexico 32% women in tech leadership 2021
Directional15Italy females 19% engineering firm leaders 2022
Single source16Russia women 38% science academy leadership 2021
Verified17South Africa 29% female STEM department heads 2022
Verified18Sweden women 26% tech company VPs 2022
Verified19Nigeria 15% women STEM firm owners 2023
Directional20US women of color 5% STEM executives 2023
Single source21Hispanic women 6% US STEM leadership 2022
Verified22Black women 4% tech leadership US 2023
Verified23Australia Indigenous women 1% STEM leaders 2022
Verified24UK minority women 10% STEM senior roles 2023
Directional25Canada Indigenous women 3% STEM execs 2022
Single source26EU women CTOs in STEM firms 15% 2023
Verified27OECD women STEM professors 25% average 2022
Verified28Global women Nobel STEM laureates 6% historically to 2023
VerifiedLeadership Interpretation
The global tech leadership landscape resembles a stubbornly exclusive gentlemen's club that occasionally allows a woman to read the rules, but still requires her to find the secret door.
Retention
1US STEM attrition rate for women 52% within 7 years post-PhD 2021
Verified2Globally, 50% of women leave STEM mid-career per UNESCO 2023
Verified3EU female STEM dropout rate 38% from workforce in first 10 years 2022
Verified4India women STEM retention 43% after 5 years 2023
Directional5Australia female STEM quit rate 35% by age 35 2022
Single source6China women retention in tech 55% long-term 2021
Verified7UK women leave STEM at twice male rate 2x in first 6 years 2023
Verified8Canada STEM women attrition 42% post-grad 2022
Verified9Brazil female STEM retention 48% after decade 2021
Directional10Japan women STEM exit rate 25% early career 2022
Single source11South Korea female tech retention 40% 2021
Verified12Germany women STEM leave rate 30% mid-career 2022
Verified13France 36% women exit STEM research by senior level 2022
Verified14Mexico STEM women retention 45% long-term 2021
Directional15Italy female attrition in engineering 32% 2022
Single source16Russia women STEM stay rate 52% career-long 2021
Verified17South Africa 39% women leave STEM jobs 2022
Verified18Sweden female STEM dropout 28% due to family 2022
Verified19Nigeria 55% women attrition in STEM early 2023
Directional20US women CS retention 45% after 10 years 2023
Single source21Black women US STEM retention 38% 2022
Verified22Hispanic women attrition 50% US STEM 2021
Verified23Australia Indigenous women STEM retention 35% 2022
Verified24UK minority women STEM exit 48% 2023
Directional25Canada Indigenous attrition 60% STEM 2022
Single source26EU motherhood penalty causes 40% STEM women exit 2023
Verified27OECD women STEM retention gap 15% behind men 2022
Verified28Global barriers cite harassment for 35% women leaving STEM UNESCO 2023
VerifiedRetention Interpretation
From the United States to Sweden and across nearly every major economy, the global STEM workforce is hemorrhaging brilliant women at a staggering rate due to a toxic cocktail of harassment, bias, and inflexible structures, proving that the real experiment that keeps failing is our society's ability to retain female talent.
Workforce
1In 2022, women made up 28% of the US STEM workforce
Verified2Globally, women are 33% of STEM professionals per UNESCO 2023
Verified3EU women 25% of ICT specialists in 2022 Eurostat
Verified4India women 14% of STEM IT workforce in 2023 NASSCOM
Directional5Australia females 29% of STEM occupations in 2022 ABS
Single source6China women 40% of engineering workforce 2021
Verified7UK women 24% in digital tech STEM jobs 2023
Verified8Canada women 23% of STEM professionals 2022
Verified9Brazil females 35% in science/tech workforce 2021
Directional10Japan women 15% of STEM employees 2022
Single source11South Korea women 18% engineering workforce 2021
Verified12Germany females 27% STEM labor force 2022
Verified13France women 29% in R&D STEM roles 2022
Verified14Mexico 38% women in tech/science jobs 2021
Directional15Italy females 26% STEM occupations 2022
Single source16Russia women 45% science/tech workforce 2021
Verified17South Africa 35% female STEM workers 2022
Verified18Sweden women 30% engineering jobs 2022
Verified19Nigeria women 20% ICT workforce 2023
Directional20US women in CS workforce 26% in 2022 NCSES
Single source21Black women 3% US STEM workforce 2021
Verified22Hispanic women 8% US STEM employed 2022
Verified23Australia Indigenous women 2% STEM workforce 2021
Verified24UK BME women 12% STEM jobs 2022
Directional25Canada Indigenous women 4% STEM labor 2021
Single source26EU women in AI/ML workforce 22% 2023
Verified27OECD average women 32% STEM workforce 2022
Verified28Low-income countries women 27% STEM jobs UNESCO 2023
VerifiedWorkforce Interpretation
It's a global leaky pipeline of talent where even the nations boasting the highest numbers, like China and Russia, haven't yet turned participation into parity, and where women of color and Indigenous women face a disheartening double-glazed ceiling of exclusion.
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