In 2020, the number of doctorates in S&E fields awarded to temporary visa holders was 16,003, up 225 from 2019 (figure 2). Overall, growth of doctorates awarded to temporary visa holders was up 101% since 2000 and up 37% since 2010. Since 2000, the proportion of S&E doctorates awarded to temporary visa holders peaked at 41% in 2007, held steady at about 36% between 2010 and 2017, and increased to 39% in 2020.^{​For more details on doctorate recipients who are temporary visa holders, see the Special Focus section.}

In comparison, although starting from a larger base, the number of S&E doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents decreased by 735 doctorates from 2019 to 2020 and experienced a slower relative growth overall (37% since 2000 and 17% since 2010).

The number of doctorate recipients on temporary visas is highly concentrated in a few places of origin. Between 2010 and 2020, 10 countries accounted for 70% of the 177,454 doctorates awarded to temporary visa holders, and the top three countries—China, India, and South Korea—accounted for over half (53%) (figure 3). Between 70% and 94% of doctorate recipients from these countries earned a doctorate in an S&E field.

Overall, 46% of all doctorates in 2020 were awarded to women. Since 2002, women have earned just over half of all doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents and more than 30% of doctorates awarded to temporary visa holders (figure 4). From 2000 to 2008, the share of female doctorate recipients grew from 49% to 52% among U.S. citizens and permanent residents and from 29% to 35% among temporary visa holders. Since 2008, the shares of female doctorates in both citizenship categories have changed little.

Most of the growth in the number of doctorates earned by both men and women has been in S&E fields (figure 5). From 2000 to 2020, the number of female doctorate recipients in S&E fields increased by 75%, though starting from a small base, compared with 45% growth in the number of male S&E doctorates. Women’s share of S&E doctorates awarded increased from 38% in 2000 to 42% in 2009, and it has remained stable since then.

In non-S&E fields, 57% of doctorates were awarded to women in 2020, a share that has changed little since the early 2000s. The number of female non-S&E doctorate recipients declined by 6% between 2000 and 2020, while the number of male doctorate recipients in those fields declined by 13%.