Map Options

map placeholder

PhD Percentage by Country / Number of Doctorate Degrees per Country 2024

1. slovenia.

Slovenia is the highest-ranking country in the number of Ph.D. degrees earned by adults between the ages of 25 and 64. 5% of the entire population in Slovenia has a Ph.D. The distribution between Ph.D. adults in Slovenia finds more female doctorates than males. About 4.5% of adult females have a Ph.D., compared to about 3% of adult males in Slovenia.

2. Switzerland

Switzerland has the second-highest rate of Ph.Ds. globally, with nearly 3% of the adult population holding this advanced degree. In Switzerland, men are more likely to hold a Ph.D., representing 4% of the total doctorate population, compared to about 2.5% for female doctorates.

3. Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, 2% of the total population holds a Ph.D. There are several countries tied for 2% of the population with a Ph.D., and almost all of the highly educated countries are in Europe . In Luxembourg, 2.5% of Ph.D. holders are male, compared to 2% female.

4. United States

The United States is tied with European countries when it comes to being a highly educated population. About 2% of the U.S. population holds a Ph.D. Men are more likely than women to have a Ph.D. in the United States, with 2.5% of the Ph.D. candidates male and about 2% female.

Like other countries on our list, Sweden is tied with 2% of the total population holding a doctorate degree. In this country, males and females are just about equal when it comes to this advanced degree. Around 2.5% of males have a Ph.D., while 2.2% of females hold a Ph.D. in Sweden.

6. The United Kingdom

Rounding out our list of highly educated countries with the most Ph.Ds., the United Kingdom has about 2% of the population holding a Ph.D. In the United Kingdom, males and females are pretty close to equal in higher education. Males account for more Ph.D. degrees, with about 2.5%, while females are close behind with nearly 2.3% Ph.Ds.

Another European country on our list of the most Ph.Ds., Germany, has about 2% of its population with a Ph.D. This country sees a more significant discrepancy between males and females when it comes to higher education. About 1.75% of males account for Ph.Ds. awarded, while only about 1% of females have their Ph.D. in Germany.

8. Australia

Breaking up the stranglehold at the top of our list between Europe and the United States, Australia makes the list with the 8th most Ph.D. citizens per capita. In Australia, 2% of the population holds a doctorate degree. Males and females are almost identical regarding Ph.Ds., with males just slightly earning a Ph.D. more frequently. Males account for 1.1% of Ph.Ds. in the country, while females account for 1.0% of the Ph.Ds. awarded in Australia.

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

What country has the highest percentage of PhDs?

Frequently asked questions.

  • What are the characteristics and outcomes of doctoral graduates? - OECD
  • These countries have the most doctoral graduates - World Economic Forum
  • List of countries by number of doctorates awarded - Wiki

warning icon

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS. A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE)

  • Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) Home
  • Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS)
  • About NCSES
  • Explore Data
  • Surveys & Analysis
  • Schedule of Release Dates
  • Corrections
  • Social and Economic Sciences (SES)
  • SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (SMA)
  • Get NCSES Email Updates Get NCSES Email Updates Go
  • NCSES RSS Feed What is RSS?
  • Contact NCSES
  • Research Areas
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Send as Email

Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities

This series presents data and trends on doctorates awarded from all U.S. universities. Information is also available on characteristics of doctorate recipients, institutions awarding doctorates, and postgraduation plans of doctorate recipients.

Most recent data year

  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2022 Special Reports | NSF 24-300 | December 5, 2023
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2022 Data Tables Data Tables | NSF 24-300 | September 28, 2023
  • Research Doctorate Conferrals Rebound, Leading to Record Number of U.S. Doctorate Recipients in 2022 InfoBriefs | NSF 23-353 | September 28, 2023
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2021 Special Reports | NSF 23-300 | December 5, 2022
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2021 (Data Tables) Data Tables | NSF 23-300 | October 18, 2022
  • Survey of Earned Doctorates Field of Study Taxonomy Changes in 2021 and Impact on Trend Data Working Papers | NCSES 23-200 | October 18, 2022
  • Baccalaureate Origins of Underrepresented Minority Research Doctorate Recipients InfoBriefs | NSF 22-335 | August 9, 2022
  • Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients InfoBriefs | NSF 22-321 | March 14, 2022
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2020 Special Reports | NSF 22-300 | November 30, 2021
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2020 Data Tables | NSF 22-300 | October 5, 2021
  • Survey of Doctorate Recipients, Longitudinal Data: 2015–19 Data Tables | NSF 22-326 | June 1, 2022
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2019 Special Reports | NSF 21-308 | December 1, 2020
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2019 Data Tables Data Tables | NSF 21-308 | December 1, 2020
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2018 Special Reports | NSF 20-301 | December 3, 2019
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2018 Data Tables Data Tables | December 3, 2019
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2017 Special Reports | NSF 19-301 | December 4, 2018
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2017 Data Tables Data Tables | December 4, 2018
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2016 Report Special Reports | NSF 18-304 | March 29, 2018
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2016 Data Tables | NSF 18-304 | December 6, 2017
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2015 Report Special Reports | NSF 17-306 | June 28, 2017
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2015 Data Tables | NSF 17-306 | December 6, 2016
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2014 Report Special Reports | NSF 16-300 | March 31, 2016
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2014 Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 16-300 | December 3, 2015
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2013 Digest (A) Special Reports | NSF 15-304 | April 29, 2015
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2013 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 15-304 | December 3, 2014
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2012 Digest (A) Special Reports | NSF 14-305 | January 16, 2014
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2012 Data Tables (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 14-305 | December 5, 2013
  • Baccalaureate Origins of U.S.-trained S&E Doctorate Recipients (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 13-323 | April 22, 2013
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2011 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 13-301 | December 5, 2012
  • Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards: 2009–10 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 13-322 | July 2, 2013
  • Doctorate Recipients from United States Universities: 2010 Data Tables (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 12-305 | December 6, 2011
  • Numbers of Doctorates Awarded in the United States Declined in 2010 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 12-303 | November 22, 2011
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2009 (A) Special Reports | NSF 11-306 | December 1, 2010
  • Numbers of Doctorates Awarded Continue to Grow in 2009; Indicators of Employment Outcomes Mixed (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 11-305 | November 22, 2010
  • Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards: 2007–08 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 11-321 | August 22, 2011
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 2007-08 (A) Special Reports | NSF 10-309 | December 2, 2009
  • Numbers of U.S. Doctorates Awarded Rise for Sixth Year, but Growth Slower (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 10-308 | November 19, 2009
  • 2007 Records Fifth Consecutive Annual Increase in U.S. Doctoral Awards (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 09-307 | November 21, 2008
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 2006 (A) Special Reports | SRS 09-321 | February 5, 2010
  • Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards: 2006 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 09-311 | March 13, 2009
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 2005 (A) Special Reports | SRS 07-337 | February 5, 2010
  • S&E Doctorate Awards: 2005 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 07-305 | December 22, 2006
  • S&E Doctorates Hit All-time High in 2005 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 07-301 | November 17, 2006
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 2004 (A) Special Reports | SRS 06-331 | February 5, 2010
  • S&E Doctorate Awards: 2004 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 06-308 | March 14, 2006
  • 2004 Doctorate Awards Increase in Science and Engineering Fields for the Second Year in a Row (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 06-301 | November 22, 2005 (Revised: December 9, 2005)
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 2003 (A) Special Reports | SRS 05-323 | February 5, 2010
  • S&E Doctorate Awards: 2003 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 05-300 | December 9, 2004
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 2002 (A) Special Reports | SRS 04-338 | February 5, 2010
  • S&E Doctorate Awards: 2002 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 04-303 | October 28, 2003
  • S&E Doctorate Awards: 2001 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 03-300 | October 25, 2002
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 2001 (A) Special Reports | SRS 03-328 | December 28, 2001
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 2000 (A) Special Reports | SRS 02-334 | February 5, 2010
  • S&E Doctorate Awards: 2000 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 02-305 | November 13, 2001
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 1999 (A) Special Reports | SRS 01-339 | February 5, 2010
  • S&E Doctorate Awards: 1999 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 01-314 | February 5, 2001
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 1998 (A) Special Reports | SRS 00-331 | February 5, 2010
  • S&E Doctorate Awards: 1998 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 00-304 | November 15, 1999
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 1997 (A) Special Reports | SRS 99-359 | February 5, 2010
  • S&E Doctorate Awards: 1997 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 99-323 | March 1, 1999
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 1996 (A) Special Reports | SRS 97-337 | February 5, 2010
  • S&E Doctorate Awards: 1996 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 97-329 | December 23, 1997
  • Doctorate Awards Increase in S&E Overall, but Computer Science Declines for First Time (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 97-325 | November 7, 1997
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 1995 (A) Special Reports | SRS 96-335 | February 5, 2010
  • Science & Engineering Doctorate Awards Are at an All-Time High (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 96-307 | June 12, 1996
  • Selected Data on S&E Doctorate Awards: 1995 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 96-303 | June 12, 1996
  • Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: Summary Report 1994 (A) Special Reports | SRS 95-344 | February 5, 2010
  • Selected Data on S&E Doctorate Awards: 1994 (A) Detailed Statistical Tables | NSF 95-337 | December 1, 1995
  • Survey of Earned Doctorates

Can't Find What You Are Looking For?

  • Search NCSES to find data and reports or browse the Publication Index .
  • See permissions for reuse of NCSES material.

Last Updated: November 19, 2018

  • Society ›

Education & Science

U.S. states that awarded the most doctorates 2021

Ranking of u.s. states in 2021, by the number of doctorate recipients.

Additional Information

Show sources information Show publisher information Use Ask Statista Research Service

October 2022

United States

Other statistics on the topic

Number of Vietnamese international student enrollments in Australia 2019-2021

Number of universities in Vietnam 2016-2020

GDP contribution of education and training in Vietnam 2015-2022

Number of Vietnamese international student enrollments in Australia 2021 by sector

Veera Korhonen

  • Immediate access to statistics, forecasts & reports
  • Usage and publication rights
  • Download in various formats

You only have access to basic statistics.

  • Instant access  to 1m statistics
  • Download  in XLS, PDF & PNG format
  • Detailed  references

Business Solutions including all features.

Other statistics that may interest you

  • Leading U.S. doctorate granting institutions 2021, by number of recipients
  • Temporary visa holders completing U.S. doctorates 2021, by country of origin
  • Number of engineering and science doctorate recipients U.S. 1957-2021
  • Number of doctorate granting institutions U.S. 1975-2018
  • Doctorate recipient numbers U.S. 2021, by major field of study
  • Doctorate recipient numbers U.S. 2021, by gender and field of study
  • Doctorate recipient numbers U.S. 2021, by field of study
  • Doctorate recipient numbers in the U.S. 2021, by ethnicity
  • Age distribution of doctorate recipients U.S. 2021
  • Share of doctorate recipients U.S. 2021, by parent's education level
  • Primary sources of financial support for U.S. doctorate recipients 2021
  • Median years to complete a doctorate U.S. 1995-2021
  • Breakdown of educational attainment in the U.S. by Latino origin group 2013
  • HR managers: critical factors when assessing graduates in the U.S. in 2011
  • HR managers' evalations of online vs on-campus colleges in the U.S. in 2011
  • International students in the U.S. 2004-2023, by academic level
  • Bachelor's degrees earned in the United States by ethnic group 2020/21
  • Master's degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by ethnicity
  • Doctoral degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by ethnicity
  • Bachelor's degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by field of research
  • How university students paid for their degree in the United States 2012
  • Contribution of college education to graduates' skill development in the U.S. 2012
  • Recruitment process: availablity of graduates in the U.S. 2012, by job category
  • HR managers on why graduates have an advantage in the U.S. job market in 2012
  • HR managers on why graduates are disadvantaged in the U.S. job market in 2012
  • Hiring rate of graduates and postgraduates in the U.S. from 2010-2012
  • Work/study situation of recent graduates in the U.S. 2012
  • U.S. university graduates median starting salaries 2012, various categories
  • Employer recruitment strategies for business school graduates in 2012
  • Number of universities in Nigeria 2023, by ownership
  • Leading big public universities in Italy 2021. by score ranking
  • Tertiary education graduation rates in OECD countries 2007
  • Total amount of outstanding HELP debts in Australia FY 2011-2023
  • Undergrad degree holders in Andhra Pradesh India 2020, by gender
  • Tuition fee for international undergraduate students in Canada 2023, by study field
  • Number of college and university graduates in China 2012-2022
  • Yonsei University's foreign students South Korea 2022, by purpose and campus
  • Number of undergraduate qualifications obtained UK 2000-2022
  • Gross female graduation ratio from first degree programs in Morocco 2015-2022
  • Doctoral degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by field of research
  • Master's degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by field of research
  • Federal funds for postsecondary education in the U.S. 2021, by department
  • Percentage of U.S. students with student loans 2020/21, by institution type
  • Undergraduate enrollment in U.S. 4-year postsecondary institutions 1970-2031
  • Student loan cohort default rate in the U.S. 2019, by institution type
  • Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers U.S. 1976-2031, by gender
  • Post-baccalaureate enrollment U.S. 1976-2031, by attendance type
  • Tuition costs and student loans at U.S. 2-year institutions by institution type 2022
  • Tuition cost and student loan amounts U.S. 2021/22, by institution type

Other statistics that may interest you Statistics on

About the industry

  • Premium Statistic Leading U.S. doctorate granting institutions 2021, by number of recipients
  • Basic Statistic Temporary visa holders completing U.S. doctorates 2021, by country of origin
  • Premium Statistic Number of engineering and science doctorate recipients U.S. 1957-2021
  • Premium Statistic Number of doctorate granting institutions U.S. 1975-2018
  • Premium Statistic Doctorate recipient numbers U.S. 2021, by major field of study
  • Premium Statistic Doctorate recipient numbers U.S. 2021, by gender and field of study
  • Premium Statistic Doctorate recipient numbers U.S. 2021, by field of study
  • Basic Statistic Doctorate recipient numbers in the U.S. 2021, by ethnicity
  • Premium Statistic Age distribution of doctorate recipients U.S. 2021
  • Premium Statistic Share of doctorate recipients U.S. 2021, by parent's education level

About the region

  • Premium Statistic Primary sources of financial support for U.S. doctorate recipients 2021
  • Premium Statistic Median years to complete a doctorate U.S. 1995-2021
  • Basic Statistic Breakdown of educational attainment in the U.S. by Latino origin group 2013
  • Premium Statistic HR managers: critical factors when assessing graduates in the U.S. in 2011
  • Premium Statistic HR managers' evalations of online vs on-campus colleges in the U.S. in 2011
  • Basic Statistic International students in the U.S. 2004-2023, by academic level
  • Basic Statistic Bachelor's degrees earned in the United States by ethnic group 2020/21
  • Basic Statistic Master's degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by ethnicity
  • Basic Statistic Doctoral degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by ethnicity
  • Basic Statistic Bachelor's degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by field of research

Selected statistics

  • Basic Statistic How university students paid for their degree in the United States 2012
  • Basic Statistic Contribution of college education to graduates' skill development in the U.S. 2012
  • Premium Statistic Recruitment process: availablity of graduates in the U.S. 2012, by job category
  • Premium Statistic HR managers on why graduates have an advantage in the U.S. job market in 2012
  • Premium Statistic HR managers on why graduates are disadvantaged in the U.S. job market in 2012
  • Premium Statistic Hiring rate of graduates and postgraduates in the U.S. from 2010-2012
  • Basic Statistic Work/study situation of recent graduates in the U.S. 2012
  • Basic Statistic U.S. university graduates median starting salaries 2012, various categories
  • Premium Statistic Employer recruitment strategies for business school graduates in 2012

Other regions

  • Basic Statistic Number of universities in Nigeria 2023, by ownership
  • Basic Statistic Leading big public universities in Italy 2021. by score ranking
  • Basic Statistic Tertiary education graduation rates in OECD countries 2007
  • Premium Statistic Total amount of outstanding HELP debts in Australia FY 2011-2023
  • Basic Statistic Undergrad degree holders in Andhra Pradesh India 2020, by gender
  • Basic Statistic Tuition fee for international undergraduate students in Canada 2023, by study field
  • Premium Statistic Number of college and university graduates in China 2012-2022
  • Premium Statistic Yonsei University's foreign students South Korea 2022, by purpose and campus
  • Basic Statistic Number of undergraduate qualifications obtained UK 2000-2022
  • Premium Statistic Gross female graduation ratio from first degree programs in Morocco 2015-2022

Related statistics

  • Basic Statistic Doctoral degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by field of research
  • Basic Statistic Master's degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by field of research
  • Basic Statistic Federal funds for postsecondary education in the U.S. 2021, by department
  • Basic Statistic Percentage of U.S. students with student loans 2020/21, by institution type
  • Premium Statistic Undergraduate enrollment in U.S. 4-year postsecondary institutions 1970-2031
  • Basic Statistic Student loan cohort default rate in the U.S. 2019, by institution type
  • Basic Statistic Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers U.S. 1976-2031, by gender
  • Basic Statistic Post-baccalaureate enrollment U.S. 1976-2031, by attendance type
  • Premium Statistic Tuition costs and student loans at U.S. 2-year institutions by institution type 2022
  • Basic Statistic Tuition cost and student loan amounts U.S. 2021/22, by institution type

Further related statistics

  • Premium Statistic Median income of psychology and social work majors by study focus in the U.S. 2013
  • Premium Statistic Median income of arts majors by study focus in the U.S. 2013
  • Premium Statistic Median income of communications and journalism majors by study focus in the U.S. 2013
  • Basic Statistic Highest earning increase from obtaining a graduate degree in the U.S. 2013
  • Basic Statistic African-American undergraduate enrollment numbers, by gender 1976 to 2011
  • Basic Statistic Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by institution type 1976-2010
  • Premium Statistic Students' evaluation of online vs on-campus colleges in the U.S. in 2011
  • Basic Statistic U.S. student loan borrowers' debt levels, private four-year colleges 2006-2022
  • Basic Statistic College graduation rate , by acceptance rate of U.S. college institution 2013
  • Basic Statistic Percentage of U.S. population groups with a bachelor's degree, by ethnicity 2010

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

  • Median income of psychology and social work majors by study focus in the U.S. 2013
  • Median income of arts majors by study focus in the U.S. 2013
  • Median income of communications and journalism majors by study focus in the U.S. 2013
  • Highest earning increase from obtaining a graduate degree in the U.S. 2013
  • African-American undergraduate enrollment numbers, by gender 1976 to 2011
  • Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by institution type 1976-2010
  • Students' evaluation of online vs on-campus colleges in the U.S. in 2011
  • U.S. student loan borrowers' debt levels, private four-year colleges 2006-2022
  • College graduation rate , by acceptance rate of U.S. college institution 2013
  • Percentage of U.S. population groups with a bachelor's degree, by ethnicity 2010

How many people have a PhD? Data from OECD countries

Photo of Master Academia

When working in academia, it is easy to forget how rare it is to have a PhD. However, data show that only a very small percentage of people hold a PhD degree. Learn more about the percentages of PhD holders, in addition to the numbers of PhD graduates and new PhD students in selected OECD countries.

Percentages of doctoral degree holders

Numbers of phd graduates, data on new phd students.

While it is widely known that only a small percentage of people are PhD holders, actual data is not always easy to come by. The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) is one of the few organizations that systematically surveys the state of education in its thirty-eight member countries.

According to the OECD’s Education at a Glance 2022 report, 1.3% of adults (25-64 year-olds) held a PhD in 2021 across the thirty-eight OECD countries.

There are of course country-specific differences. In Denmark and Germany, for instance, roughly 1% of the total population held a PhD in 2021. In the US and the UK, approximately 2% of the total population held a PhD in 2021. And in Slovenia, it was 5% of the population in 2021!

The following chart provides an overview of percentages of adults, defined as those between 25 and 64 years of age, who held a doctoral degree in 2021 in selected OECD countries:

how many phd holders in usa

In the Education at a Glance 2022 report, the percentages of people who obtained a doctoral degree in 2021 are rounded up. In reality, more subtle differences exist between countries. More detailed data are available on the percentage of adults (25-64 year-olds) with a doctoral degree in 2017. While this data is older, it paints a more varied picture of the differences between countries:

how many phd holders in usa

Combined, these insights make one thing very clear: Graduating with a doctoral degree is something special! Once you accomplish the goal of getting a PhD, you will belong to a small percentage of people who obtained the highest academic degree.

Every year, new people graduate with a PhD degree. Unfortunately, the OECD only records data from PhD graduates who are younger than 35 years. Personally, I find this choice surprising as doing a PhD later in life has many advantages . I would assume that there is a high number of PhD graduates every year who are older than 35.

Even though the available data does not provide a full picture of the situation, it generates some interesting insights. For instance, the average number of PhD graduates (<35 years of age) across OECD countries decreased since 2015:

how many phd holders in usa

The actual numbers of PhD graduates differ quite considerably when exploring individual countries. The following graph shows the total number of PhD graduates of eight OECD countries, as well as the division between female and male graduates in 2020:

how many phd holders in usa

In the UK, for instance, 2163 female individuals graduated with a PhD degree in 2020, compared to 2335 male individuals. Canada, on the other hand, gained 838 female and 1003 male new PhD holders in 2020. Unfortunately, data on gender distributions of PhD graduates was not available for the US.

The fields in which people obtain their PhD degree provides another interesting perspective. The OECD differentiates between academic fields, several of which can be found in the first column of the following table. This table showcases the number of PhD graduates in 2020 by academic field in selected countries:

In the seven selected OECD countries, the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics produced by far the highest number of PhD graduates in 2020.

Every year, new individuals enroll in doctoral degree studies. According to the OECD’s Education at a Glance 2022 report, the total number of new PhD students across the OECD decreased by 4% between 2013 and 2020. However, the report also stipulates that this average decrease is heavily influenced by a large drop in new PhD students in Poland (-77%) and in the Slovak Republic (-26%).

The following table shows the number of new PhD students in selected countries according to academic fields:

The average percentage of female entrants to doctoral programmes across all OECD countries is 49% (Source: Education at a Glance 2022 ). The following graph shows the share of new female entrants to doctoral programmes in 2020 in several countries:

how many phd holders in usa

Across OECD countries, the median age of people starting with a doctoral degree is 29 years (Source: Education at a Glance 2022 ).

Get new content delivered directly to your inbox!

Subscribe and receive Master Academia's quarterly newsletter.

Journal vs conference papers: Key differences & advice

How long does it take to get a phd after a master's degree, related articles.

Featured blog post image for Hidden gems - 3 free apps every PhD researcher should know about

Hidden gems: 3 free apps every PhD researcher should know about

Featured blog post image for How long does it take to get a PhD after a master's degree - data from Europe

How long does it take to get a PhD after a master’s degree?

Featured blog post image for Top 20 motivational quotes for PhD students

Top 20 motivational quotes for PhD students

Featured blog post image for 10 reasons not to do a master's degree

10 reasons NOT to do a master’s degree

National Science Foundation logo.

Fields of study

As researchers expand their understanding of the world, new fields of study emerge and existing fields change. Observing which fields of study are attracting growing proportions of students can provide early insight into where future research breakthroughs may occur.

Field of study trends

Doctorates in science and engineering (S&E) fields are a growing share of all doctorates awarded. Every broad S&E field except for psychology and social sciences increased both its number and share of all doctorates over the past 2 decades. Psychology and social sciences increased in the number of doctorate recipients, but its share of all doctorates declined. table 12 . " data-bs-content="For details on the number of doctorate recipients by field, please see detailed table 12 . " data-endnote-uuid="6798bf84-9404-4fe8-b5b7-ce08ae7a74f7">​ For details on the number of doctorate recipients by field, please see detailed table 12 . Engineering had the largest growth among S&E fields, from 13% of all doctorates in 2000 to 19% in 2020 ( figure 7 ).

  • For grouped bar charts, Tab to the first data element (bar/line data point) which will bring up a pop-up with the data details
  • To read the data in all groups Arrow-Down will go back and forth
  • For bar/line chart data points are linear and not grouped, Arrow-Down will read each bar/line data points in order
  • For line charts, Arrow-Left and Arrow-Right will move to the next set of data points after Tabbing to the first data point
  • For stacked bars use the Arrow-Down key again after Tabbing to the first data bar
  • Then use Arrow-Right and Arrow-Left to navigate the stacked bars within that stack
  • Arrow-Down to advance to the next stack. Arrow-Up reverses
  • Share on X/Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Send as Email

Doctorates awarded in S&E broad fields of study: Selected years, 2000–20

S&E = science and engineering.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2020. Related detailed table 4 , table 7 , table 12 , and table 13 .

Non-S&E

Within non-S&E fields, the number of doctorates awarded in education and in humanities and arts declined between 2000 and 2020, leading to a large, steady drop in the relative share of doctorates in those fields. Data Source . " data-bs-content="Regarding the decline in the field of education, see details in the “Time series data changes” in the section Data Source . " data-endnote-uuid="6dae001f-4d7a-4b78-95f3-c43c10ee91a9">​ Regarding the decline in the field of education, see details in the “Time series data changes” in the section Data Source . The number of doctorates in other non-S&E fields—such as business management and communication—increased, table 12 . " data-bs-content="For details on the number of doctorate recipients by field, see detailed table 12 . " data-endnote-uuid="11c1a2f6-3020-47d1-9647-317d584eb37f">​ For details on the number of doctorate recipients by field, see detailed table 12 . but the share of these doctorates remained fairly level ( figure 8 ).

Doctorates awarded in non-S&E broad fields of study: Selected years, 2000–20

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2020. Related detailed table 4 , table 8 , table 12 , and table 13 .

Temporary visa holders

In the past 2 decades, the number of doctorate recipients who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents increased in every broad field of study except in education and in humanities and arts, where numbers declined. During this period, the number of doctorates awarded to temporary visa holders increased in every broad field and at fast rates. table 17 . " data-bs-content="For more details, see detailed table 17 . " data-endnote-uuid="6296303b-63be-49dc-b7bb-19772222f5e1">​ For more details, see detailed table 17 .

In 2020, temporary visa holders earned the majority of doctorates awarded in engineering (59%) and in mathematics and computer sciences (59%) ( figure 9 ). Since 2000, the proportion of temporary visa holders increased the most in those two broad fields and in the category of other non-S&E fields, which includes business management and administration, communication, and other non-S&E fields not elsewhere classified.

Doctorate recipients on temporary visas: 2000 and 2020

Percentages are based on the number of doctorate recipients who reported citizenship.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2020. Related detailed table 17 .

Minority U.S. citizens and permanent residents

In 2020, 69% of the 34,492 doctorate recipients who were U.S. citizens or permanent residents were White; 9% were Asian, 8% were Hispanic or Latino, 7% were Black or African American, and 3% identified as more than one race. table 19 . " data-bs-content="For more details, see detailed table 19 . " data-endnote-uuid="52fe76f5-2eb7-4f15-8747-13f008f9cee8">​ For more details, see detailed table 19 . The remaining doctorate recipients were either American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or did not report their race or ethnicity. Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, and American Indians or Alaska Natives are considered underrepresented in S&E because they are a larger proportion of the adult U.S. population (12%, 16%, and 0.7%, respectively) than the proportion of S&E doctorates they earn (6%, 8%, 0.2%, respectively) ( table A and table B ).

Adult resident population of the United States, by race and ethnicity: 2019

a Hispanic or Latino may be any race.

Census Bureau, Population Division, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Sex, Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin for the United States and States: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019 (NC-EST2019-ASR6H), released June 2020, https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-national-detail.html .

S&E doctorate awards to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, by race and ethnicity: 2020

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2020.

Among minority U.S. citizens and permanent residents, doctorate recipients of different racial or ethnic backgrounds are more heavily represented in some fields of study than in others. In 2020, Asians earned a larger share of doctorates than other racial and ethnic minority groups in life sciences, physical sciences and earth sciences, mathematics and computer sciences, and engineering. Black or African American doctorate recipients were the largest minority population in education and in other non-S&E fields, and Hispanics or Latinos were the largest minority population in humanities and arts. Hispanics or Latinos and Blacks or African Americans earned a larger proportion of doctorates in psychology and social sciences and in education than did other minority groups ( figure 10 ).

Doctorates awarded to minority U.S. citizens or permanent residents, by selected race, ethnicity, and broad field of study: 2020

Excludes U.S. citizen and permanent resident respondents who did not report race or ethnicity or were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Hispanic or Latino may be any race.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2020. Related detailed table 23 and table 24 .

Women’s share of doctorates awarded has grown over the past 2 decades in all broad fields of study except for humanities and arts where it remained the same. In 2020, women earned 49% or more of the doctorates awarded in life sciences, psychology and social sciences, education, humanities and arts, and other non-S&E fields.

Women earned only between about a quarter and a third of the doctorates awarded in engineering, in mathematics and computer sciences, and in physical sciences and earth sciences in 2020. However, women’s shares of doctorates in these fields have grown over the past 20 years. From 2000 to 2020, the proportion of female doctorates grew considerably in life sciences (from 47% to 56%), in engineering (from 16% to 25%), and in physical sciences and earth sciences (from 25% to 33%). In psychology and social sciences and in mathematics and computer sciences, women’s share grew by 4 to 5 percentage points during this period ( figure 11 ).

Doctorates awarded to women, by broad field of study: 2000 and 2020

Percentages are based on the number of doctorate recipients who reported sex.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2020. Related detailed table 14 through table 16 .

Growing and declining S&E fields

The growth or decline in the share of women doctorate recipients in different fields does not always track with the overall growth of those fields. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of doctorate recipients in all fields grew by 15% while the share of women declined by nearly 1 percentage point ( figure 12 ). table 15 . " data-bs-content="For more details, see detailed table 15 . " data-endnote-uuid="fb7c9a74-47b3-412d-aebb-a9480ad42fee">​ For more details, see detailed table 15 .

From 2010 to 2020, the proportion of female doctorate recipients increased between 3 and 6 percentage points in four fields where the overall numbers of doctorates increased: industrial and manufacturing engineering; agricultural science and natural resources; mechanical engineering; and aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering. Women’s share of doctorates also increased about 7 percentage points in anthropology, a field that declined in the overall number of doctorates awarded.

Despite the growth in the number of doctorate recipients in the health sciences and in teaching fields in the past 10 years, women’s shares of doctorates in these fields declined. The proportion of female doctorate recipients also declined in political science and government, history, and foreign languages and literature—fields in which the number of doctorates declined as well.

Fastest changing fields of study for female doctorate recipients and rates of change: 2010–20

Fastest changing fields for female doctorate recipients are the five or six fields with the highest or lowest growth in the number of women between 2010 and 2020. Growth in the share of women refers to the difference in the percentage of women in a field during this period. Field of study growth is the overall change in the number of doctorate recipients in this period in a field (including both women and men).

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates. Related detailed table 15 .

Women were awarded more PhDs in the US than men last year

Graduating student Jennifer Lim sits in the shade before the start of the 361st Commencement Exercises at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts May 24, 2012.   REUTERS/Brian Snyder    (UNITED STATES - Tags: EDUCATION) - GM1E85P08GE01

Men still earned the majority of PhDs in most STEM subjects Image:  REUTERS/Brian Snyder

.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:hover,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:focus,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);} Kate Whiting

how many phd holders in usa

.chakra .wef-9dduvl{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-9dduvl{font-size:1.125rem;}} Explore and monitor how .chakra .wef-15eoq1r{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;color:#F7DB5E;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-15eoq1r{font-size:1.125rem;}} Education is affecting economies, industries and global issues

A hand holding a looking glass by a lake

.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;color:#2846F8;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{font-size:1.125rem;}} Get involved with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale

Stay up to date:.

More than half (53%) of the 79,000 doctoral degrees handed out in the United States last year went to women – a record high.

But as the below chart shows, men still earned the majority of PhDs in most STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.

 More women than men earned PhDs in the US in 2017.

For the ninth year in a row, women at US universities have earned more doctoral degrees than men, according to the Council of Graduate Schools’ CGS/GRE Graduate Enrollment & Degrees: 2007-2017 report .

In some fields, as many as three-quarters of the PhDs awarded went to women, including public administration and services (75.6%), health sciences (70.3%) and education (68.8%). Women were also ahead of men in arts and humanities, as well as social and behavioral sciences.

Besides doctoral degrees, US institutions also awarded the majority of graduate certificates (64%) and master’s degrees (57.3%) to women in 2016-17.

However, men still dominated in the fields of engineering (76.6%), mathematics and computer sciences (74.9%) and physical and earth sciences (65.9%), which suggests that more needs to be done to encourage women to study STEM subjects to a higher level.

Better educated, but not better paid

 The gender pay gap in the US is slowly closing.

In November 2017, American wives were better educated than their husbands for the first time in history, according to the US Institute for Family Studies.

But despite the higher educational attainment of married women, they were still earning less than their husbands, or, as the Institute’s Wendy Wang said: “Even when women ‘marry down’ educationally, they continue to ‘marry up’ in income.”

Recent figures show that for every dollar earned by men, women earn just 80 cents . This is due in part to women tending to work in lower-paid industries, as well as a number of other factors including discrimination and bias in hiring and pay decisions. This is often compounded when women take time out of the workforce to raise children.

Have you read?

These are the world’s best universities, these degrees have the highest salaries in the us, why fewer kenyan women are choosing degrees in stem .

Getting more women into STEM

The US government reported that although women made up 47% of the workforce in 2015, they only occupied 24% of STEM jobs .

In 2016, just over one-quarter (25.5%) of computer and mathematical jobs were occupied by women, while only 14.2% of jobs in engineering and architecture were held by women .

STEM jobs are generally better paid – with women earning 35% more than those in other careers. But even those women in higher-paying STEM jobs were still earning less than their male counterparts, receiving just 79.2% of men’s annual median earnings in 2016.

So how to encourage more girls to study STEM subjects and take up careers in the field? Beyond striving for equality over pay and promotions in the workplace, suggestions range from creating all-female courses and online mentoring by women working in STEM, to changing the design of classrooms to make the actual learning environment feel more gender neutral .

Don't miss any update on this topic

Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

Related topics:

The agenda .chakra .wef-n7bacu{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-weight:400;} weekly.

A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda

.chakra .wef-1dtnjt5{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;} More on Education .chakra .wef-17xejub{-webkit-flex:1;-ms-flex:1;flex:1;justify-self:stretch;-webkit-align-self:stretch;-ms-flex-item-align:stretch;align-self:stretch;} .chakra .wef-nr1rr4{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;white-space:normal;vertical-align:middle;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:0.75rem;border-radius:0.25rem;font-weight:700;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;line-height:1.2;-webkit-letter-spacing:1.25px;-moz-letter-spacing:1.25px;-ms-letter-spacing:1.25px;letter-spacing:1.25px;background:none;padding:0px;color:#B3B3B3;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;}@media screen and (min-width:37.5rem){.chakra .wef-nr1rr4{font-size:0.875rem;}}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-nr1rr4{font-size:1rem;}} See all

how many phd holders in usa

How boosting women’s financial literacy could help you live a long, fulfilling life 

Morgan Camp

April 9, 2024

how many phd holders in usa

How universities can use blockchain to transform research

Scott Doughman

March 12, 2024

how many phd holders in usa

Empowering women in STEM: How we break barriers from classroom to C-suite

Genesis Elhussein and Julia Hakspiel

March 1, 2024

how many phd holders in usa

Why we need education built for peace – especially in times of war

February 28, 2024

how many phd holders in usa

These 5 key trends will shape the EdTech market upto 2030

Malvika Bhagwat

February 26, 2024

how many phd holders in usa

With Generative AI we can reimagine education — and the sky is the limit

Oguz A. Acar

February 19, 2024

Read our research on: Gun Policy | International Conflict | Election 2024

Regions & Countries

Key facts about u.s. latinos with graduate degrees.

Graduate student taking a selfie with her parents on her graduation day - stock photo

In 2021, nearly 2.5 million Latinos in the United States held advanced degrees such as master’s degrees or doctorates. This represented a huge increase over 2000, when 710,000 Latinos held advanced degrees. The shift reflects Latinos’ broader increase in postsecondary enrollment and rising educational attainment .

Despite the large increase in the number of Latinos with advanced degrees, they accounted for just 8% of all advanced degree holders in the U.S. in 2021. This was far below their 19% share of the overall U.S. population , according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to examine the demographic characteristics of Latinos who hold a graduate degree. This analysis draws on data from the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses and the 2010 and 2021 American Community Surveys (ACS), accessed through the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) from the University of Minnesota.

While looking at the share of populations with a graduate degree, we examined only individuals 25 and older because formal education is not often completed before age 25. While looking at the overall number of graduate degree holders, there is no age filter applied.

All displayed numbers are rounded. Shares and percent changes are calculated using unrounded numbers. Figures of 100,000 or more are rounded to the nearest 10,000; figures less than 100,000 are rounded to the nearest 5,000.

Here are some facts about Latinos who hold graduate degrees:

Among Latinos ages 25 and older, 7% held a graduate degree as of 2021. This was up from 4% in 2000, but still only half the share among all Americans ages 25 and up (14%).

U.S.-born Hispanics 25 and older were more likely than foreign-born Hispanics to have a graduate degree in 2021 (8% vs. 5%).

Overall, U.S.-born Hispanics have more formal education than Hispanic immigrants. In 2021, a majority of U.S.-born Hispanics 25 and older (56%) had at least some college experience, compared with only 31% of foreign-born Hispanics.

A bar chart showing the highest level of education among Latinos ages 25 and older, by nativity and compared with all U.S. adults in 2021. 8% of U.S.-born Latinos have an advanced degree, as do 5% of foreign-born Latinos. 7% of Latinos overall have an advanced degree, half the share of all U.S. adults who hold one (14%).

Among Latinos who hold a graduate degree, most hold a master’s as their highest level of education. Among the nearly 2.5 million Latinos who had earned an advanced degree as of 2021 (either in the U.S. or elsewhere), 1.8 million – or 72% – held a master’s degree as their highest degree. These included degrees such as Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Social Work and Master of Business Administration.

An additional 440,000 Latinos with an advanced degree, or 18%, had a professional degree beyond a bachelor’s degree as their highest level of education. These included degrees such as Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Juris Doctor (law). Overall, Latinos accounted for 8% of professional degree holders in the U.S. in 2021.

Another 250,000 Latinos with advanced degrees, or 10%, had a doctoral degree, such as a Ph.D. or Ed.D.

Among all Americans, 72% of those with a graduate degree have a master’s degree as their highest level of education, while 17% have a professional degree and 12% have a doctorate.

A pie chart showing the share of Latinos with graduate degrees who hold a master's degree, professional degree, or doctoral degree as their highest level of education in 2021. 72% of Latinos with a graduate degree have a master's.

Hispanic Americans have seen the fastest growth in advanced degrees of any major racial or ethnic group. That includes a 291% increase in the number of Hispanic women holding an advanced degree and a 199% increase in that number for Hispanic men between 2000 and 2021. By comparison, there has been slower growth in graduate degrees among White, Black and Asian Americans.

A bar chart showing the number and percentage change of graduate degree holders from 2000 to 2021 among racial and ethnic groups, by gender. Among both genders, Hispanic women and men saw the fastest growth in the number of advanced degrees, by 291% and 199%, respectively.

Women have fueled the growing number of Hispanics with graduate degrees. Between 1990 and 2021, the number of Hispanic women with an advanced degree increased by more than a million. The number of Hispanic men with an advanced degree also grew rapidly, though the gain was smaller – about 860,000.

In 1990, about 60,000 fewer Hispanic women than Hispanic men had an advanced degree. A decade later, that gender gap was almost closed. By 2010, women outnumbered men among Hispanics with such degrees. And as of 2021, about 290,000 more Hispanic women than men held a graduate degree.

A bar chart showing the number of graduate degrees held by Hispanic men and women in 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2021. While more men than women held graduate degrees in 1990, more Hispanic women than Hispanic men held graduate degrees in 2010 and 2021.

Most Latinos with graduate degrees are U.S. born, but immigrants account for more than a third of the total.

A bar chart showing the share of Latinos with a graduate degree who are U.S.-born or foreign born in 2021. A second bar chart shows the number of graduate degree-holders among immigrants of various Latino origin groups. Among U.S. Latinos with a graduate degree, 63% are U.S.-born while 37% are foreign-born. The Latino origin group to have the most immigrants with a graduate degree was Mexicans at 250,000, followed by Cubans (100,000) and Colombians (100,000).

Mexicans are the largest group of immigrant Latinos with graduate degrees, numbering about 250,000 in 2021. They are followed by Cubans, Colombians, Venezuelans and Dominicans.

Venezuelans are the most highly educated of Latino immigrant origin groups . In 2021, 22% of Venezuelan immigrants ages 25 and older had a graduate degree. An additional 36% of Venezuelans held a bachelor’s degree.

Among Latino immigrants with an advanced degree, about 110,00 have a doctorate as their highest level of education (12% of advanced degrees among Latino immigrants) and 200,000 (22%) have a professional degree beyond a bachelor’s. (It’s not clear how many Latino immigrants have earned their degrees outside the U.S.)

These doctorate and professional degree shares are slightly higher for immigrants than U.S.-born Latinos with graduate degrees. U.S.-born Latinos who hold doctoral and professional degrees make up 9% and 15%, respectively, of U.S.-born Latinos with advanced degrees.

Nearly half of all Hispanics with graduate degrees (48%) live in 10 metro areas. In fact, more than 500,000 Latinos with graduate degrees live in just two metro areas: New York (280,000) and Miami (230,000).

Notably, the list of metro areas with the most Latino graduate degree holders differs from the top 10 metro areas by Latino population overall. For example, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., are on the list of top metro areas for Latinos with graduate degrees, but not for Latinos overall. Both cities are hubs for jobs that may require advanced education, such as in technology or policy.

A table showing the top 10 metro areas in 2021 for Latino graduate-degree holders. The top three metro areas for Latinos with a graduate degree are New York (280,000), Miami (230,000), and Los Angeles (180,000). About half of Latinos with advanced degrees live in these 10 metro areas.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Fresh data delivered Saturday mornings

Education levels of recent Latino immigrants in the U.S. reached new highs as of 2018

Hispanic dropout rate hits new low, college enrollment at new high, 5 facts about latinos and education, hispanic, black parents see college degree as key for children’s success, analysis shows fewer hispanic young adults ‘disconnected’ from school, jobs, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

Explore Jobs

  • Jobs Near Me
  • Remote Jobs
  • Full Time Jobs
  • Part Time Jobs
  • Entry Level Jobs
  • Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

  • $15 Per Hour Jobs
  • $20 Per Hour Jobs
  • Hiring Immediately Jobs
  • High School Jobs
  • H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

  • Business And Financial
  • Architecture And Engineering
  • Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

  • What They Do
  • Certifications

Demographics

Best Companies

Health Care

  • Fortune 500

Explore Companies

  • CEO And Executies
  • Resume Builder
  • Career Advice
  • Explore Majors
  • Questions And Answers
  • Interview Questions

PHD Researcher demographics and statistics in the US

Phd researcher demographics research summary. Zippia estimates phd researcher demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our phd researcher estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about phd researchers after extensive research and analysis:

  • There are over 41,751 phd researchers currently employed in the United States.
  • 38.3% of all phd researchers are women, while 61.7% are men .
  • The average phd researcher age is 40 years old.
  • The most common ethnicity of phd researchers is White (47.8%), followed by Asian (32.5%), Hispanic or Latino (9.3%) and Black or African American (6.1%).
  • Phd researchers are most in-demand in Livermore, CA.
  • The technology industry is the highest-paying for phd researchers.
  • 8% of all phd researchers are LGBT .

PHD Researcher gender statistics

  • Male , 61.7%
  • Female , 38.3%

PHD Researcher gender ratio

Phd researcher gender pay gap.

Women earn $1.00 for every $1 earned by men

PHD Researcher gender ratio over time

Phd researcher gender ratio by year, phd researcher related jobs gender ratio.

We compared phd researchers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, procurement forester and field agronomist have the biggest gender ratio gaps.

PHD Researcher demographics by race

  • White , 47.8%
  • Asian , 32.5%
  • Hispanic or Latino , 9.3%
  • Black or African American , 6.1%
  • Unknown , 4.0%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native , 0.3%

PHD Researcher Race

Phd researcher race and ethnicity over time.

See how phd researcher racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.

  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Black or African American

PHD Researcher race and ethnicity by year

Phd researcher wage gap by race, average phd researcher age, phd researcher age by race and gender, phd researcher age breakdown.

30-40 years

20-30 years

PHD Researcher educational attainment

  • Doctorate , 40%
  • Bachelor's , 39%
  • Master's , 20%
  • Associate , 0%
  • Other Degrees , 1%

PHD Researchers by degree level

Phd researcher jobs you might like, phd researcher wage gap by degree level, phd researcher employment statistics, company size where phd researchers work.

< 50 employees

50 - 100 employees

100 - 500 employees

500 - 1,000 employees

1,000 - 10,000 employees

> 10,000

PHD Researcher jobs by employer size

Phd researcher jobs by company type, phd researcher jobs by sector, phd researcher jobs by industry.

The most common industries for phd researchers are education, professional and health care.

Professional

Manufacturing

PHD Researcher industry statistics

Phd researcher turnover and employment statistics, phd researcher unemployment rate over time.

  • Unemployment rate

PHD Researcher unemployment rate by year

Average phd researcher tenure.

Less than one year

PHD Researcher tenure statistics

Phd researcher lgbt ratio compared to similar jobs, similar phd researcher jobs lgbt demographics, foreign languages spoken by phd researchers.

  • Chinese , 18.8%
  • Spanish , 16.9%
  • French , 13.7%
  • German , 9.3%
  • Mandarin , 8.3%
  • Other , 33.0%

PHD Researcher languages spoken

Phd researcher jobs, phd researcher location demographics.

Where do phd researchers earn the most?

Which city has the most PHD Researchers?

PHD Researcher jobs by state

Phd researcher demographics faqs, how many phd researcher are there in the us, what percentage of phd researchers are black, what race are most phd researchers, are phd researcher jobs male - dominated, how old is the average phd researcher, search for phd researcher jobs, related jobs demographics.

  • Assistant Research Scientist Demographics
  • Associate Scientist Demographics
  • Doctoral Fellow Demographics
  • Doctoral Student Demographics
  • Fellow Demographics
  • Graduate Research Student Demographics
  • Graduate Researcher Demographics
  • Laboratory Researcher Demographics
  • Postdoctoral Associate Demographics
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate Demographics
  • Postdoctoral Scholar Demographics
  • Research And Development Scientist Demographics
  • Research Fellow Demographics
  • Research Internship Demographics
  • Research Scientist Demographics

PHD Researcher Related Hirings

  • How To Hire An Assistant Research Scientist
  • How To Hire An Associate Scientist
  • How To Hire A Doctoral Fellow
  • How To Hire A Doctoral Student
  • How To Hire A Fellow
  • How To Hire A Graduate Research Student
  • How To Hire A Graduate Researcher
  • How To Hire A Laboratory Researcher
  • How To Hire A Postdoctoral Associate
  • How To Hire A Postdoctoral Research Associate
  • How To Hire A Postdoctoral Scholar
  • How To Hire A Research And Development Scientist
  • How To Hire A Research Fellow
  • How To Hire A Research Internship
  • How To Hire A Research Scientist

PHD Researcher Related Jobs

  • Assistant Research Scientist Jobs Near Me
  • Associate Scientist Jobs Near Me
  • Doctoral Fellow Jobs Near Me
  • Doctoral Student Jobs Near Me
  • Fellow Jobs Near Me
  • Graduate Research Student Jobs Near Me
  • Graduate Researcher Jobs Near Me
  • Laboratory Researcher Jobs Near Me
  • Postdoctoral Associate Jobs Near Me
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs Near Me
  • Postdoctoral Scholar Jobs Near Me
  • Research And Development Scientist Jobs Near Me
  • Research Fellow Jobs Near Me
  • Research Internship Jobs Near Me
  • Research Scientist Jobs Near Me

What Similar Roles Do

  • What an Assistant Research Scientist Does
  • What an Associate Scientist Does
  • What a Doctoral Fellow Does
  • What a Fellow Does
  • What a Graduate Research Student Does
  • What a Laboratory Researcher Does
  • What a Postdoctoral Associate Does
  • What a Postdoctoral Research Associate Does
  • What a Postdoctoral Scholar Does
  • What a Research And Development Scientist Does
  • What a Research Fellow Does
  • What a Research Internship Does
  • What a Research Scientist Does
  • What a Researcher Does
  • What a Scientist Does
  • Zippia Careers
  • Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
  • PHD Researcher
  • PHD Researcher Demographics

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs

IMAGES

  1. Women were awarded more PhDs in the US than men last year

    how many phd holders in usa

  2. PhD FAQs

    how many phd holders in usa

  3. Statistics on doctorate holders

    how many phd holders in usa

  4. College Graduation Statistics [2021]: Total Graduates per Year

    how many phd holders in usa

  5. Percentage of bachelor's-degree holders who attained PhDs as a function

    how many phd holders in usa

  6. Harvard Government Phd Acceptance Rate

    how many phd holders in usa

VIDEO

  1. PhD and Academic Doctorates Holders

  2. Employment trends for SA graduates in the spotlight

COMMENTS

  1. Number of People With Master's and Doctoral Degrees Doubles Since 2000

    Since 2000, the number of people age 25 and over whose highest degree was a master's has doubled to 21 million. The number of doctoral degree holders has more than doubled to 4.5 million. Now, about 13.1 percent of U.S. adults have an advanced degree, up from 8.6 percent in 2000.

  2. Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)

    Data presented in Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2022 were collected by the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). The survey is sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF) and by three other federal agencies: the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Education (ED), and National Endowment ...

  3. PDF Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2020

    The number of U.S. citizens and permanent resident doctorate recipients declined in 2020 to 34,492 (from 35,232 in 2019), and the number of temporary visa holders was similar to the number in 2019 (18,482 in 2020 and 18,324 in 2019).

  4. PhD Percentage by Country / Number of Doctorate Degrees per Country 2024

    % of Doctorate Holders. 0.5. 1. 1.5. 2. 2.5. 3. 3.5. 4. ... PhD Percentage by Country / Number of Doctorate Degrees per Country 2024. 1. ... Breaking up the stranglehold at the top of our list between Europe and the United States, Australia makes the list with the 8th most Ph.D. citizens per capita. In Australia, 2% of the population holds a ...

  5. U.S. higher education

    Doctoral degrees earned in the United States 1950-2032, by gender. In the academic year of 2020/21, about 85,370 male and 108,690 female students earned a doctoral degree in the United States. By ...

  6. Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2021

    Research doctorate recipients from U.S. colleges and universities: 1958-2021. 1-2. Research doctorate recipients, by historical broad field of doctorate and 2018 Carnegie Classification of doctorate institution: 2011-21. 1-3. Research doctorate recipients, by historical major field of doctorate: Selected years, 1991-2021. 1-4.

  7. U.S. higher education: doctoral degrees by field of research 2021

    Doctoral degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by field of research. In the academic year of 2020/2021 in the United States, 85,581 doctoral degrees were earned in health professions and ...

  8. Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities

    Numbers of Doctorates Awarded in the United States Declined in 2010 (A) InfoBriefs | NSF 12-303 | November 22, 2011 Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2009 (A) Special Reports | NSF 11-306 | December 1, 2010

  9. Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2020

    Top 40 countries of origin of temporary visa holders earning U.S. doctorates, ranked by number of doctorate recipients: 2020: View Table 25: Download Table 25 Excel: Download Table 25 PDF: 26 Table 26: Top 10 countries of origin of temporary visa holders earning U.S. doctorates, by country of citizenship and field of study: 2010-20: View Table 26

  10. What Statistics Tell Us About Doctoral Degrees Today

    In 2020, there were 55,283 research doctoral degrees awarded by universities in the U.S. That number is down slightly from 2019, when 55,614 candidates earned doctorates. In 1958, only 8,773 doctorates were earned. On average, the number of PhDs awarded has increased by 3.1% annually since 1958, although some years do reflect a decline. 2.

  11. How Many People Have a PhD? Rarity vs. Reality Explained

    The distribution of men and women doing a PhD also varies from country to country. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), in the UK, 48 per cent of graduates with a doctoral qualification were female and 51 per cent were male in 2021-22. Across the world, the percentage of men with a doctoral qualification is generally ...

  12. Number of doctorate recipients in the U.S. by state 2021

    Temporary visa holders completing U.S. doctorates 2021, by country of origin; ... Master's degrees earned in the United States 2020/21, by field of research;

  13. How many people have a PhD? Data from OECD countries

    Learn more about the percentages of PhD holders, in addition to the numbers of PhD graduates and new PhD students in selected OECD countries. When working in academia, it is easy to forget how rare it is to have a PhD. However, data show that only a very small percentage of people hold a PhD degree. ... United States: Education: 441: 327: 381 ...

  14. Survey shows annual decline in number of Ph.D.s awarded

    The New Ph.D.s. Annual Survey of Earned Doctorates shows drop in number of Ph.D.s awarded in 2020. It's still too early to tell how COVID-19 impacted Ph.D. attainment, however. The number of doctorate recipients declined slightly in 2020, to 55,283 Ph.D.s across fields, from 55,614 in 2019. This is the first drop since 2017, according to new ...

  15. Fast Facts: Degrees conferred by race/ethnicity and sex (72)

    Response: The percentage of degrees conferred by race/ethnicity and sex varied by level of degree in 2020-21. 1 Includes Ph.D., Ed.D., and comparable degrees at the doctoral level, as well as such degrees as M.D., D.D.S., and law degrees that were classified as first-professional degrees prior to 2010-11. NOTE: Data in this table represent ...

  16. Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2020

    Women. This report summarizes trends in U.S. doctoral education by using data from the 2020 Survey of Earned Doctorates, an annual census of research doctorate recipients from U.S. universities. Important trends in this population are highlighted in this report, including the representation of women, minorities, and temporary visa holders ...

  17. Women were awarded more PhDs in the US than men last year

    Kate Whiting. More than half (53%) of the 79,000 doctoral degrees handed out in the United States last year went to women - a record high. But as the below chart shows, men still earned the majority of PhDs in most STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects. For the ninth year in a row, women at US universities have earned ...

  18. Doctoral Student demographics and statistics in the US

    There are over 29,753 doctoral students currently employed in the United States. 47.1% of all doctoral students are women, while 52.9% are men. The average doctoral student age is 44 years old. The most common ethnicity of doctoral students is White (53.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.6%), Asian (11.8%) and Black or African American (11 ...

  19. Number of Ph.D.s conferred dropped 5.4% in 2021

    But according to preliminary data out this week, the number of doctorates awarded in the U.S. dropped 5.4 percent between 2020 and 2021, the steepest decline ever for the NSF's annual census of new Ph.D.s. In numbers, 52,250 research doctorates were awarded across fields in 2021. That's 2,974 fewer than in 2020.

  20. So many Americans with phDs. : r/PhD

    giantsnails. •. I'd wager your mental picture of a doctoral degree holder is "a person with a science or engineering PhD.". Based on the number of graduates per year (~35,000), that profile probably comprises around 0.5% of US citizens, slightly higher if you include noncitizens, many of whom are highly educated.

  21. List of doctoral degrees awarded by country

    Candidate of Sciences (Candidatus scientiarum - CSc., replaced by common Ph.D. in the Czech Republic in 1998 and by PhD. in Slovakia in 1996) Doctor of philosophy (Philosophiae doctor - Ph.D. or PhD., awarded since 1998 and 1996, respectively; requires at least 3-5-year doctoral study and coursework of 120-180 Credits)

  22. How many US Latinos have graduate degrees? What the data says

    Overall, Latinos accounted for 8% of professional degree holders in the U.S. in 2021. Another 250,000 Latinos with advanced degrees, or 10%, had a doctoral degree, such as a Ph.D. or Ed.D. Among all Americans, 72% of those with a graduate degree have a master's degree as their highest level of education, while 17% have a professional degree ...

  23. PHD Researcher demographics and statistics in the US

    There are over 41,751 phd researchers currently employed in the United States. 38.3% of all phd researchers are women, while 61.7% are men. The average phd researcher age is 40 years old. The most common ethnicity of phd researchers is White (47.8%), followed by Asian (32.5%), Hispanic or Latino (9.3%) and Black or African American (6.1%).