Nobel Prize statistics highlight ongoing gender gap in STEM

Historical data regarding the Nobel Prize highlights a persistent gender gap in scientific recognition. Since the prizes were established in 1901, only 26 women have been recognized in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology or Medicine, accounting for 27 total distinctions due to Marie Curie winning in two separate disciplines.

Statistical trends show that the record for the most women awarded in a single year—five—has not been surpassed since 2009. While notable female scientists such as Barbara McClintock, Tu Youyou, Emmanuelle Charpentier, and Jennifer Doudna have made transformative contributions to genetics and genome editing, women remain a minority among laureates. The 2026 scientific prizes were awarded exclusively to men, underscoring the ongoing disparity in representation within these prestigious honors.