According to the latest figures from Eurostat, in 2020, there were more than 16 million scientists and engineers in the EU, an increase of 6.3% in comparison with 2019. The number of scientists and engineers increased in all Member States, but Lithuania. The biggest growths were registered in Hungary (+19%), Portugal (+13%) and Latvia (+12.5%). In 10 years, the number of scientists and engineers in the EU increased by 59%, with the biggest improvements in Malta (+203%), Portugal (+178%) and Austria (+175%). 

Of the scientists and engineers in the EU in 2020, 41% were women and 59% were men, similar to 2019. Even though the majority are men, the share of women increased by 7 percentage points in 10 years. The EU countries with the highest share of scientists and engineers women are Lithuania (52%), Portugal (52%) and Denmark (52%). On the contrary, the EU countries with the lowest shares are Finland (30%), Hungary (31%) and Luxembourg (33%). In comparison with 2019, the share increased the most in Luxembourg, Malta and Portugal. Over the last 10 years, Denmark, Austria and France showed the biggest progressions; while Poland, Ireland, Belgium and Hungary were the only EU Member States displaying a decline.

By sector, women were underrepresented in manufacturing, with only 21% of female scientists and engineers, while there was more of a gender balance in the services sector (46%).

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