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CodeSE.TER.TCHR.FE.ZS
Indicator NameTertiary education, academic staff (% female)
Short definitionTertiary education, academic staff (% female) is the share of female academic staff in tertiary education.
Long definitionTertiary education, academic staff (% female) is the share of female academic staff in tertiary education.
SourceData API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Detailed documentation is available at: https://api.uis.unesco.org/api/public/documentation/, publisher: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), date accessed: 2025-09-22, date published: 2025-09
TopicEducation: Inputs
DatasetWDI
Unit of measure% of academic staff in tertiary education
PeriodicityAnnual
Reference period1970-2023
Aggregation methodWeighted average
Statistical concept and methodologyMethodology: The share of female academic staffs in tertiary education is calculated by dividing the total number of female academic staffs at tertiary level of education by the total number of academic staffs at the same level, and multiplying by 100. Data on education are collected by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics from official responses to its annual education survey. All the data are mapped to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) to ensure the comparability of education programs at the international level. The current version was formally adopted by UNESCO Member States in 2011. The reference years reflect the school year for which the data are presented. In some countries the school year spans two calendar years (for example, from September 2010 to June 2011); in these cases the reference year refers to the year in which the school year ended (2011 in the example). Statistical concept(s): The share of female teachers shows the level of gender representation in the teaching force. A value of greater than 50% indicates more opportunities or preference for women to participate in teaching activities.
Development relevanceThis indicator reflects the gender distribution within the teaching profession. It serves as a tool for evaluating the necessity of creating opportunities and incentives to promote female participation in educational instruction at various levels. According to UNESCO, there is a global trend of women being disproportionately represented in the teaching workforce. Nonetheless, this representation declines at the tertiary education level, where men are more prevalent, and women are less likely to attain senior and leadership roles within higher education institutions.
Limitations and exceptionsThe indicator measures the level of gender representation in the teaching profession, rather than the effectiveness and quality of teaching.
License URLhttps://datacatalog.worldbank.org/public-licenses#cc-by
License TypeCC BY-4.0
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