In the US, women make up 48% of undergraduate STEM enrollees, yet they account for only 22% of engineering students. Globally, women hold just 30% of STEM researchers and represent 12% of AI researchers. The gender gap widens as students progress and later choose or stay in specific STEM pathways.
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 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
- 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
Women remain underrepresented across STEM pipelines and careers, from education to leadership and retention.
Related reading
01 · Category
Degrees30 stats
01
In 2022, women accounted for just 35% of STEM bachelor's degree recipients in the US, compared to 59% in non-STEM fields
02
Globally, only 30% of researchers in STEM fields are women as of 2023 UNESCO data
03
In the EU, women earned 37% of STEM PhDs in 2021, up from 32% in 2015 but still lagging
04
US women received 24% of engineering bachelor's degrees in 2020
05
In India, women comprised 43% of STEM graduates in 2022, highest in Asia per AISHE report
06
Australia saw women earn 28% of STEM master's degrees in 2021
07
In China, female STEM PhD holders reached 38% in 2020
08
UK women awarded 39% of computing degrees in 2022
09
Canada reported 40% female STEM graduates at undergraduate level in 2021
10
In Brazil, women earned 45% of STEM bachelor's in 2019
11
Japan had women receiving only 15% of engineering degrees in 2021
12
South Korea women got 29% of STEM doctorates in 2020
13
In Germany, 29% of STEM master's were awarded to women in 2022
14
France women earned 33% of math/science PhDs in 2021
15
In Mexico, 42% of engineering undergrad degrees to women in 2020
16
Italy women 34% of physics/astronomy doctorates in 2022
17
Russia had 48% female STEM bachelor's recipients in 2021
18
South Africa women 38% of STEM postgrad degrees in 2020
19
In Sweden, 35% of computer science degrees to women in 2022
20
Nigeria women earned 25% of engineering degrees in 2021
21
In the US, Black women received only 2.5% of STEM PhDs in 2020
22
Hispanic women 7% of US STEM master's in 2021
23
Asian women 12% of US engineering bachelor's globally benchmarked
24
In Australia, Indigenous women 1% of STEM PhDs in 2022
25
UK BAME women 15% of STEM doctorates in 2021
26
Canada Indigenous women 3% of STEM graduates in 2020
27
In EU, women 25% of ICT PhDs in 2022
28
Global South women 28% of STEM master's per UNESCO 2023
29
In OECD average, women 33% of science degrees in 2021
30
US women 21% of computer science PhDs in 2022
Interpretation
Degrees 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.
02 · Category
Enrollment28 stats
01
In 2021 US undergraduate STEM enrollment, women were 48% overall but only 22% in engineering
02
Globally, girls represent 47% of STEM tertiary enrollment but drop to 35% in advanced programs per UNESCO 2023
03
EU higher education STEM enrollment for women was 39% in 2022
04
In India, female STEM enrollment in colleges reached 42.6% in 2021-22 per AISHE
05
Australia women 45% of STEM undergrad enrollees in 2022
06
China female STEM university enrollment hit 49% in 2021
07
UK women 40% enrolled in STEM subjects at university in 2022/23
08
Canada women 52% of overall enrollment but 38% in STEM in 2021
09
Brazil female STEM enrollment in undergrad 46% in 2021
10
Japan women only 16% enrolled in engineering programs in 2022
11
South Korea female STEM enrollment 30% in STEM fields 2021
12
Germany women 35% of STEM bachelor enrollees in 2022
13
France girls 41% in scientific baccalaureates leading to STEM in 2022
14
Mexico women 44% STEM tertiary enrollment in 2021
15
Italy female enrollment in STEM degrees 33% in 2022/23
16
Russia women 55% of STEM university enrollees in 2021
17
South Africa female STEM enrollment 40% in 2022
18
Sweden women 42% enrolled in engineering in 2022
19
Nigeria girls 28% in STEM higher ed enrollment 2021
20
US high school girls 45% taking AP STEM courses in 2022
21
Hispanic girls 20% of US STEM college enrollees in 2021
22
Black women 9% of STEM enrollment in US unis 2022
23
In Australia, Indigenous girls 4% STEM enrollment 2021
24
UK ethnic minority girls 22% STEM enrollment 2022
25
Canada Indigenous women 5% postsecondary STEM enrollment 2021
26
EU migrant background women 25% STEM enrollment avg 2022
27
OECD countries average female STEM enrollment 40% in 2021
28
Global low-income countries women 25% STEM enrollment 2023 UNESCO
Interpretation
Enrollment 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.
03 · Category
Leadership28 stats
01
In US tech firms, women hold 25% of leadership roles in STEM 2023
02
Globally, only 12% of AI researchers are women per WEF 2023
03
EU women 18% of STEM corporate board members 2022
04
India female STEM CEOs 8% in top firms 2023
05
Australia women 22% STEM executives 2022
06
China 28% women in senior tech management 2021
07
UK women 20% STEM senior positions 2023
08
Canada females 24% STEM managers 2022
09
Brazil women 30% science leadership roles 2021
10
Japan 10% women in STEM executive posts 2022
11
South Korea women 14% R&D directors 2021
12
Germany females 23% STEM C-suite 2022
13
France women 27% high-level STEM researchers 2022
14
Mexico 32% women in tech leadership 2021
15
Italy females 19% engineering firm leaders 2022
16
Russia women 38% science academy leadership 2021
17
South Africa 29% female STEM department heads 2022
18
Sweden women 26% tech company VPs 2022
19
Nigeria 15% women STEM firm owners 2023
20
US women of color 5% STEM executives 2023
21
Hispanic women 6% US STEM leadership 2022
22
Black women 4% tech leadership US 2023
23
Australia Indigenous women 1% STEM leaders 2022
24
UK minority women 10% STEM senior roles 2023
25
Canada Indigenous women 3% STEM execs 2022
26
EU women CTOs in STEM firms 15% 2023
27
OECD women STEM professors 25% average 2022
28
Global women Nobel STEM laureates 6% historically to 2023
Interpretation
Leadership 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Retention28 stats
01
US STEM attrition rate for women 52% within 7 years post-PhD 2021
02
Globally, 50% of women leave STEM mid-career per UNESCO 2023
03
EU female STEM dropout rate 38% from workforce in first 10 years 2022
04
India women STEM retention 43% after 5 years 2023
05
Australia female STEM quit rate 35% by age 35 2022
06
China women retention in tech 55% long-term 2021
07
UK women leave STEM at twice male rate 2x in first 6 years 2023
08
Canada STEM women attrition 42% post-grad 2022
09
Brazil female STEM retention 48% after decade 2021
10
Japan women STEM exit rate 25% early career 2022
11
South Korea female tech retention 40% 2021
12
Germany women STEM leave rate 30% mid-career 2022
13
France 36% women exit STEM research by senior level 2022
14
Mexico STEM women retention 45% long-term 2021
15
Italy female attrition in engineering 32% 2022
16
Russia women STEM stay rate 52% career-long 2021
17
South Africa 39% women leave STEM jobs 2022
18
Sweden female STEM dropout 28% due to family 2022
19
Nigeria 55% women attrition in STEM early 2023
20
US women CS retention 45% after 10 years 2023
21
Black women US STEM retention 38% 2022
22
Hispanic women attrition 50% US STEM 2021
23
Australia Indigenous women STEM retention 35% 2022
24
UK minority women STEM exit 48% 2023
25
Canada Indigenous attrition 60% STEM 2022
26
EU motherhood penalty causes 40% STEM women exit 2023
27
OECD women STEM retention gap 15% behind men 2022
28
Global barriers cite harassment for 35% women leaving STEM UNESCO 2023
Interpretation
Retention 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.
05 · Category
Workforce28 stats
01
In 2022, women made up 28% of the US STEM workforce
02
Globally, women are 33% of STEM professionals per UNESCO 2023
03
EU women 25% of ICT specialists in 2022 Eurostat
04
India women 14% of STEM IT workforce in 2023 NASSCOM
05
Australia females 29% of STEM occupations in 2022 ABS
06
China women 40% of engineering workforce 2021
07
UK women 24% in digital tech STEM jobs 2023
08
Canada women 23% of STEM professionals 2022
09
Brazil females 35% in science/tech workforce 2021
10
Japan women 15% of STEM employees 2022
11
South Korea women 18% engineering workforce 2021
12
Germany females 27% STEM labor force 2022
13
France women 29% in R&D STEM roles 2022
14
Mexico 38% women in tech/science jobs 2021
15
Italy females 26% STEM occupations 2022
16
Russia women 45% science/tech workforce 2021
17
South Africa 35% female STEM workers 2022
18
Sweden women 30% engineering jobs 2022
19
Nigeria women 20% ICT workforce 2023
20
US women in CS workforce 26% in 2022 NCSES
21
Black women 3% US STEM workforce 2021
22
Hispanic women 8% US STEM employed 2022
23
Australia Indigenous women 2% STEM workforce 2021
24
UK BME women 12% STEM jobs 2022
25
Canada Indigenous women 4% STEM labor 2021
26
EU women in AI/ML workforce 22% 2023
27
OECD average women 32% STEM workforce 2022
28
Low-income countries women 27% STEM jobs UNESCO 2023
Interpretation
Workforce 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Gender Gap In Stem Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gender-gap-in-stem-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Gender Gap In Stem Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/gender-gap-in-stem-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Gender Gap In Stem Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gender-gap-in-stem-statistics.
Sources & references
74 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level