International Day of Women and Girls in Science

11 February, International Day of Women and Girls in Science

In Slovenia, there are more than 6,000 female doctorate holders. Each year a similar number of women and men receive their doctorate. Female doctorate holders earn on average 12% less than male doctorate holders do. A third of researchers in Slovenia are women, which is the same as the EU average.

  • 7 February 2024 at 10:30
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11 February is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The United Nations has dedicated this day to promoting gender equality in science and encouraging more women and girls to pursue careers as researchers. We searched through statistical data to find out what they can tell us about women and girls in science.

The share of women higher among younger doctorate holders 

In 2022, there were 6,205 female doctorate holders in Slovenia, representing 44% of all doctorate holders in the country. Among doctorate holders under the age of 50, the gender ratio was relatively balanced. However, in the older population, the share of women among all doctorate holders was considerably smaller; women represented 27% of doctorate holders aged 65 or older.

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Half of the new doctorate holders are women

In 2022, 452 students completed their doctoral studies, half of them women. The share of women among new doctorate holders (i.e. those who obtained a doctoral degree in an individual year) increased by 35 percentage points in the last 40 years. In the early 1980s, there were only a handful of women among new doctorate holders (18%), and by 1991, the share increased to 27%. Thirty years later, the gender ratio is more balanced.

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This share varies significantly among different fields of education. In 2022, the share of women among new doctorate holders was highest in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary (80%) and lowest in the field of information and communication technologies (15%).

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Female doctorate holders earn on average almost 12% less than male doctorate holders do

Average monthly gross earnings of female doctorate holders in Slovenia in 2022 amounted to EUR 4,001 and were, on average, nearly 12% lower than those of their male colleagues. Female doctorate holders received the lowest earnings in the field of educational sciences, where the gender pay gap was the highest (19.3%). The situation for female doctorate holders was similar in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT). Female doctorate holders in the field of health and welfare received the highest earnings (EUR 4,994), but they still earned nearly 13% less than their male colleagues. The gender pay gap was the lowest (around 8%) among doctorate holders in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and veterinary.

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The higher the academic title, the lower the share of women among teaching faculty 

In the academic year 2022/23, among 3,168 professors and lecturers at tertiary level, 47% were women. However, this share was lower with higher-ranking academic titles. Among assistant professors, 47% were women, and among full professors, ten percentage points fewer.

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Among researchers, one-third are women

In 2021, 16,282 researchers were employed in research and development (R&D) activities in Slovenia. Among them, 34% were female researchers, which is the same share as the EU average. Latvia had the highest share of women among researchers in the EU, a half, while the lowest share was recorded in Czechia.

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The highest share of women among researchers in the field of medicine

Among various fields of research and development activities, there were significant differences in gender ratios. The field of medical and health sciences had the highest share of female researchers (61%). The share was the lowest in the field of engineering and technology (20%).

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When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.