In Uruguay, only 32% of women pursue STEM-related degrees, according to the Interinstitutional Board of Women in Science, Innovation and Technology. This means that barely one in three women choose science-related fields, and the figure drops even further in engineering, where women represent just 24% of students. Out of 4,800 engineering graduates in the country, only 1,152 were women.
Experts attribute this gap to gender stereotypes formed from an early age, which tend to encourage boys toward technology and science careers while steering girls toward more traditional roles.To address this imbalance, Uruguay has launched several public initiatives aimed at increasing girls’ access to and participation in science and technology programs, seeking to close the gender gap in STEM education and careers.
Compiled From: “Solo un tercio de los graduados de Uruguay en física y matemáticas son mujeres: la ciencia sigue siendo masculina,” Debate Uruguay, Oct. 20, 2025.