Estonia: Tertiary education, academic staff (% female)

Key figures

Over five years it is up 0.36 percentage points from 49.33% in 2019. Since 1996 it is up 1.92 percentage points from 47.78% in 1996. The World Bank has no value for 12 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2024, Estonia's tertiary education, academic staff (% female) rose 0.99 percentage points on 2023 (from 48.7% to 49.7%).

Across the 12 yearly changes before that (1997 to 2023), the average change was −0.1 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.96 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 1.13 percentage points in 2001 and the biggest yearly fall was 2.71 percentage points in 2000. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 1% of the movement over 9 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Estonia had the 24th highest value of the 61 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Estonia in the 2024 ranking

• Andorra — 20th of 61: 50.48%
• Serbia — 21st of 61: 50.2%
• Netherlands — 22nd of 61: 49.91%
• Malaysia — 24th of 61: 49.45%
• Honduras — 25th of 61: 48.88%
• Saudi Arabia — 26th of 61: 48.05%

What this measures

Tertiary education, academic staff (% female) is the share of female academic staff in tertiary education.

Limitations: The indicator measures the level of gender representation in the teaching profession, rather than the effectiveness and quality of teaching.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 17 values

Tertiary education, academic staff (% female) in nearby economies

• Albania — 58.85% (2024)
• Andorra — 50.48% (2024)
• Armenia — 63.47% (2024)
• Austria — 45.74% (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 62.01% (2024)
• Belarus — 61.56% (2024)
• Belgium — 50.36% (2023)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 46.78% (2023)
• Bulgaria — 52.32% (2024)
• Croatia — 51.15% (2023)

More education data for Estonia

• Primary school starting age (years) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 13 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 89,246 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 94.31% (2019)
• Primary education, pupils (% female) — 48.52% (2017)
• Secondary education, general pupils — 63,544 (2017)
• Secondary education, general pupils (% female)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Estonia's tertiary education, academic staff (% female)?

49.7% in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1996?

It is up 1.92 percentage points from 47.78% in 1996. The highest value was 49.7% in 2024 and the lowest 46.38% in 2000.

How does Estonia rank?

24th highest of 61 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in tertiary education, academic staff (% female) unusual for Estonia?

In 2024, Estonia's tertiary education, academic staff (% female) rose 0.99 percentage points on 2023 (from 48.7% to 49.7%). Across the 12 yearly changes before that (1997 to 2023), the average change was −0.1 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.96 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.TER.TCHR.FE.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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