Global Gender Gap Report | World Economic Forum

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Unveiling Gender Parity: The Global Gender Gap and the Path Ahead

The Global Gender Gap Index 2023 reveals several key findings that shed light on the state of gender parity worldwide. Firstly, the global gender gap score for all 146 countries stands at 68.4% closed, indicating a slight improvement of 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous year. Among the 102 countries included in every edition since 2006, the gender gap is 68.6% closed in 2023, recovering to the level reported in 2020 and advancing by a modest 4.1 percentage points since the first edition. However, the current rate of progress suggests that it will take 131 years to reach full gender parity, and even reverting back to the time horizon projected in the 2020 edition would require significant acceleration.

When considering regional results, Europe surpasses North America as the region with the highest gender parity, scoring 76.3% closed. Latin America and the Caribbean closely follow at 74.3%. Eurasia and Central Asia and East Asia and the Pacific rank 4th and 5th, respectively. However, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa still face considerable gender gaps. The projected time to achieve gender parity varies across regions, ranging from 67 years for Europe to 189 years for East Asia and the Pacific.

Examining gender gaps in the global labour market, there has been a slight increase in women’s participation, with the labour-force participation rate reaching 64% compared to the previous year’s 63%. Despite this improvement, women still experience higher unemployment rates, and a significant portion of the employment recovery since 2020 is attributed to informal jobs. Women’s representation in senior leadership positions remains low, with a global average of 32.2% compared to the overall workforce average of 41.9%. Moreover, women’s representation in STEM occupations and emerging fields like artificial intelligence continues to be significantly lower than in non-STEM fields.

The are also gender gaps in the skills of the future. Disparities in online learning platforms persist, with women having limited access and fewer opportunities. Such disparities exist across all skill categories, particularly in technology-related skills such as technological literacy and AI, which are projected to grow in importance. Furthermore, the gender gaps tend to widen as proficiency levels increase, indicating slower progress in acquiring future-oriented skills.

In conclusion, there is a persistent gender gaps present in various dimensions and regions. These findings emphasize the urgent need for accelerated efforts to achieve gender parity in economic participation, leadership representation, and access to education and opportunities. Addressing these gaps is crucial for fostering inclusive and sustainable development worldwide.

👉 Check out the report here: bit.ly/3XXJzac