United States: Tertiary education, academic staff (% female)

Key figures

Over five years it is up 1.84 percentage points from 49.86% in 2018. Since 1975 it is up 26.42 percentage points from 25.28% in 1975. The World Bank has no value for 31 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2023, United States' tertiary education, academic staff (% female) rose 0.36 percentage points on 2022 (from 51.34% to 51.7%).

Across the 12 yearly changes before that (1991 to 2022), the average change was +0.37 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.64 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.0 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 2.31 percentage points in 1994 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.07 percentage points in 1995. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2014 to 2023 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.3 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 98% of the movement over 10 observed years.

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

How it compares

In 2023, United States had the 7th highest value of the 30 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 United States in the 2023 ranking

• Sri Lanka — 3rd of 30: 55.45%
• Bermuda — 4th of 30: 54.55%
• Romania — 5th of 30: 52.35%
• Philippines — 7th of 30: 51.18%
• Croatia — 8th of 30: 51.15%
• Belgium — 9th of 30: 50.36%

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 18 values

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

• Bermuda — 54.55% (2023)
• Canada — 47.39% (2016)

More education data for United States

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 12 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) — 79.36% (2022)
• School enrollment, tertiary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.32 (2022)
• School enrollment, tertiary, female (% gross) — 94.85% (2022)
• School enrollment, tertiary, male (% gross) — 64.54% (2022)
• Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)

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 United States's tertiary education, academic staff (% female)?

51.7% in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1975?

It is up 26.42 percentage points from 25.28% in 1975. The highest value was 51.7% in 2023 and the lowest 25.28% in 1975.

How does United States rank?

7th highest of 30 economies with data for 2023.

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

In 2023, United States' tertiary education, academic staff (% female) rose 0.36 percentage points on 2022 (from 51.34% to 51.7%). Across the 12 yearly changes before that (1991 to 2022), the average change was +0.37 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.64 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.0 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

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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