Facts and Figures

Table of Contents

People

Employees

As of January 2026, OIST has 1,169 employees from 72 countries and territories.

  Total International Women
Faculty 96 61 (64%) 22 (23%)
Research Unit Staff 502 361 (72%) 182 (36%)
Research Support Staff 78 41 (53%) 32 (41%)
Administrative Staff 493 111 (23%) 348 (71%)
Total 1,169 574 (49%) 584 (50%)

Visit the Careers page to see job postings and open positions.

PhD Students

As of January 2026, OIST has 298 PhD students from 52 countries and territories.

Total International Women
PhD Students 298 77% 42%

Visit the OIST Admissions website for information about the PhD program and research internships.

Number of Students Admitted per Academic Year (Chart)

Number of Students Admitted per Academic Year (Table)

Year Total Students International Women
2012 34 28 10
2013 20 15 5
2014 27 21 12
2015 24 22 7
2016 35 29 17
2017 37 32 13
2018 34 33 14
2019 52 43 20
2020 62 49 30
2021 44 34 14
2022 50 41 15
2023 55 45 22
2024 50 38 28
2025 57 40 26

Countries and Territories Represented

Employee Nationalities and Territories (Map)

Employee Nationalities and Territories (List)

Territory Employees
Afghanistan 1
Algeria 1
Argentina 1
Australia 11
Austria 4
Bangladesh 4
Belarus 1
Belgium 6
Benin 1
Brazil 9
Bulgaria 3
Canada 11
China 39
Colombia 1
Czechia 6
Denmark 2
Dominican Republic 1
Egypt 2
El Salvador 1
Estonia 2
Finland 5
France 24
Georgia 1
Germany 26
Ghana 1
Greece 3
Hungary 4
India 58
Indonesia 6
Iran 6
Ireland 8
Israel 8
Italy 17
Japan 595
Kazakhstan 2
Lebanon 1
Lithuania 3
Luxembourg 1
Madagascar 1
Malaysia 4
Mexico 11
Morocco 2
Nepal 1
Netherlands 4
New Zealand 9
Pakistan 1
Peru 2
Philippines 7
Poland 5
Portugal 5
Romania 4
Russia 26
Saudi Arabia 2
Singapore 3
Slovakia 2
South Africa 1
South Korea 12
Spain 11
Sri Lanka 1
Sweden 5
Switzerland 1
Taiwan 22
Thailand 2
Tunisia 1
Türkiye 5
Undisclosed 14
United Arab Emirates 1
United Kingdom 40
United States 79
Venezuela 1
Viet Nam 3
Yemen 1
Zambia 1

PhD Student Nationalities and Territories (Map)

PhD Student Nationalities and Territories (List)

Territory Students
Austria 2
Belarus 2
Belgium 1
Brazil 6
Canada 4
China 11
Colombia 1
Croatia 1
Cyprus 1
Czechia 3
Ecuador 4
Egypt 2
Finland 1
France 8
Germany 5
Greece 1
Hong Kong 2
India 27
Indonesia 8
Iran 4
Israel 2
Italy 3
Japan 68
Kazakhstan 2
Latvia 1
Macao 1
Madagascar 1
Malaysia 1
Mexico 7
Netherlands 4
New Zealand 1
Pakistan 3
Philippines 2
Poland 5
Portugal 1
Romania 1
Russia 27
Singapore 3
Slovakia 1
South Korea 5
Spain 6
Sri Lanka 2
Sweden 1
Switzerland 3
Syria 2
Taiwan 10
Thailand 1
Uganda 1
Ukraine 8
United Kingdom 12
United States 17
Viet Nam 2

Outreach Statistics

OIST connects to the community — elementary, junior high, and high school students, as well as teachers and the general public in Okinawa — through science outreach, campus visits, and cultural activities.

Outreach Event Participants (Chart)

Outreach Event Participants (Table)

Year General Public Students & Teachers
2011 1,888 5,665
2012 8,443 8,957
2013 25,372 9,612
2014 26,600 8,826
2015 21,465 8,252
2016 19,232 9,179
2017 17,534 9,749
2018 14,800 10,003
2019 11,635 8,455
2020 0 4,063
2021 180 1,702
2022 5,122 3,544

Number of Visitors to OIST (Chart)

Number of Visitors to OIST (Table)

Fiscal Year Number of Visitors
2011 10,565
2012 21,475
2013 39,984
2014 41,009
2015 35,495
2016 35,919
2017 32,083
2018 27,673
2019 25,290
2020 0
2021 1,650
2022 8,620
2023 23,203

Science Festival Participants (Chart)

OIST has held its annual Science Festival since FY2008. The number of participants increased from 629 up to 5000 in 6 yrs.

Science Festival Participants (Table)

Fiscal Year Number of Participants
2008 629
2009 471
2010 2,130
2011 3,012
2012 4,075
2013 5,000
2014 5,000
2015 5,000
2016 5,200
2017 5,300
2018 4,500
2019 5,200
2020 3,000
2021 0
2022 600
2023 1,024