Women In STEM Statistics 2025
Global And Regional Trends
By Dr Shara Cohen
As the world advances in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, women continue to play a critical role in shaping the future. Yet representation remains uneven across countries, disciplines, and career stages. In 2025, global and regional data show both encouraging progress and persistent barriers. These statistics not only highlight where women stand in STEM but also reveal what must change to create fairer, more innovative systems. This report provides an overview of the latest numbers, explores the trends behind them, and considers what the data mean for the future of women in STEM worldwide
Global Overview
According to UNESCO, women now account for roughly 33 percent of researchers globally. This represents a modest increase from previous years but remains far from parity. Regional variation is stark, with some countries exceeding 40 percent representation and others falling below 20 percent. At the organisational level, the OECD reports that women remain concentrated in certain disciplines such as life sciences while underrepresented in engineering, computing, and physics. Despite growth in digital education programmes, gender gaps in advanced technical roles persist. In the United Kingdom, data from the Office for National Statistics show that women represent around 27 percent of the core STEM workforce in 2025. This is an improvement compared with a decade ago but progress has slowed in engineering and technology fields.
Europe
In Western Europe, women account for nearly 35 percent of STEM researchers, with strong representation in biology and medicine but continued underrepresentation in engineering. Countries with robust childcare systems and equal pay policies, such as the Nordic nations, retain more women in technical careers.
In Eastern Europe, representation is higher in mathematics and physics than in Western Europe, reflecting longstanding educational traditions. However, women are still less visible in senior academic and corporate leadership roles.
North America
In the United States and Canada, women represent about 30 percent of STEM jobs. Women are well represented in health and life sciences but remain under 20 percent in computing and engineering. The gender pay gap is particularly persistent in these areas, with men in technology roles earning substantially more. For more detailed analysis, see the STEM pay gap discussion.
Asia And The Pacific
Asia’s data show major contrasts. East Asian economies such as China and South Korea graduate large numbers of women in STEM, yet fewer remain in long term research or corporate roles. In South Asia, cultural barriers limit entry, though progress is being made through targeted educational initiatives. The Pacific region shows small but growing numbers of women in STEM leadership.
Africa
African countries present a wide range of outcomes. Nations with targeted programmes, such as South Africa’s policies for women in research, are improving representation. Yet overall, women still make up less than a third of STEM professionals on the continent. Mentorship and investment programmes remain critical for retention.
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Official Source – Credit: www.womeninstemnetwork.com – By Dr Shara Cohen
