According to LinkedIn data in the “Global Gender Gap Report 2024,” women’s participation in both STEM and non-STEM sectors of the global economy has increased since 2016. The report, released annually by the World Economic Forum, sheds light on these trends, tracking progress in education, economic opportunity, political representation, and health. Its latest findings reveal where women are making the biggest strides in STEM.
This year’s report reveals that significant gender gaps persist — especially in the percentage of women versus men who graduate with tertiary-level degrees in STEM fields. This means that the benefits of technological progress continue to skew disproportionately toward men.
Data from the report highlights these disparities:
- Although women’s share of tertiary STEM degrees rose from 24.4% in 2016 to 27.1% in 2024, men still outpace women significantly.
- In 62 of 73 countries, the gender gap in STEM education has narrowed, but progress remains inconsistent due to factors such as educational access, cultural norms, and government policies.
What’s the global state of the STEM graduation gender gap?
Difference in STEM graduation percentages between men and women in selected countries (2024)
Methodology
To better understand global gender disparities in STEM, the Society of Women Engineers conducted a gap analysis using data from the report. The study examined 146 countries, focusing on tertiary education graduates by gender and field of study. Of these, 71 countries provided complete data on women and men STEM graduates, while 75 lacked comprehensive or updated figures for 2024. SWE measured the global STEM graduation gender gap by calculating the percentage difference between women and men graduates in each of the 71 countries that reported complete data.
Findings
On an international scale, the data paint a clear picture of where women stand in STEM graduation percentages and where the gender gaps are most pronounced. The Maldives presents the most extreme case: Less than 11% of STEM graduates are women, compared to 89% men. That is a gender gap of approximately -79% on the chart. And even in countries with moderate gaps — such as Austria (-48%), Germany (-45%), Spain (-41%), and Czechia (-29%) — there is clearly still progress to be made.
On the other hand, some countries show a positive shift, with women outnumbering men in STEM graduations, highlighting real progress toward gender equity in STEM education in these countries. These include Brunei Darussalam (+9%), Benin (+10%), Oman (+12%), and Algeria (+16%). While the percentage differences may seem minor, the real-world consequences can be significant. Underrepresentation can limit women’s career opportunities, earning potential, and ability to influence and shape future technologies and innovations.
Conclusion
These findings reveal the persistence of imbalances that continue to prevent women from reaching their academic potential in many countries and serve as a powerful reminder that while progress has been made in some locations, there’s still a long road ahead for many countries.
References
World Economic Forum. (2024). Global Gender Gap Report 2024.
Özdemir, E. (2025, January 13). Why it’s time to use reskilling to unlock women’s STEM potential. World Economic Forum.
Elhussein, G., & Hakspiel, J. (2024, March 1). Empowering women in STEM: How we break barriers from classroom to C-suite. World Economic Forum.
Vogel, D. C. (2021). Female leaders in STEM addressing gender bias: A constructivist grounded theory (Publication No. 28769693) [Doctoral dissertation, Capella University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
