Economic indicators, Featured, Labour Productivity, Productivity

OECD Dashboard on Gender Gaps: How does your country compare?

by oecdstatistics
4 minute read

By Willem Adema (willem.adema@oecd.org), Pauline Fron (pauline.fron@oecd.org), Maxime Ladaique (maxime.ladaique@oecd.org), OECD Social Policy Division

As the world marks International Equal Pay Day on 18 September 2025, the OECD is proud to unveil a new tool in the global effort to close gender gaps: the OECD Dashboard on Gender Gaps. This initiative is more than a data repository – it is a call to action, a mirror of persistent inequalities, and a roadmap for reform. The OECD Dashboard on Gender Gaps provides internationally comparable data covering all OECD countries to strengthen the monitoring and tracking of progress towards gender equality.

Gender equality is a core value and a strategic priority for the OECD. Despite progress over time, gender inequality persists across  all OECD countries. There are growing concerns about boys falling behind in education while women and girls continue to encounter disadvantages across many aspects of social and economic life. The persistent gaps in education, employment, entrepreneurship, and public life also result in missed opportunities in terms of employment participation, innovation, and economic growth, affecting the overall prosperity of societies.

To contribute to further narrowing existing gender gaps, we developed the OECD Dashboard on Gender Gaps which providesa snapshot of gender equality policies and outcomes across OECD countries and five broad policy domains.

Education & Skills

Gender equality in education empowers boys and girls with equal opportunities to successfully complete schooling and develop life skills for their individual well-being and societal prosperity. Indicators aim to reflect paths and policies in education and skills development. For example, governments should aim to make all fields – from science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to education, arts and the humanities – equally inclusive and attractive for both boys and girls.

Employment & Entrepreneurship

Closing gender gaps in labour force participation (both in participation rates and paid working hours) could increase annual growth by 0.22 percentage points, boosting GDP per capita by 8.8% by 2060 on average across the OECD. Women are currently under-represented in employment and entrepreneurship, and they are paid less than men. Combatting discrimination in hiring practices and career progression, promoting the reconciliation of work and family commitments for both fathers and mothers are among the objectives that governments and social partners can pursue to enhance the quality of economic participation of men and women alike and long-term economic growth.

Public Life & Policy Tools

Based on key provisions of the OECD Recommendation on Gender Equality in Public Life, this section presents indicators that capture various dimensions of public governance, such as participation of women in politics at different levels. In doing so, it highlights the role of stronger governance and accountability for equality of men and women and highlights policy actions to support their economic participation as well as participation in public life.

Knowledge, Technology & Resources

Digital transformation and the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces and homes will continue to change the world of work and societal participation. Women are underrepresented among internet users in most countries and among AI users, and ICT and STEM graduates (see Education and Skills). Women can be at a disadvantage in accessing resources, such as financial and transport infrastructures or face barriers to economic participation in specific sectors, such as energy.

Health & Well-being

Growing evidence highlights important issues around women’s and men’s health and well-being. On average, men and women have different health experiences and outcomes. Men are more likely to engage in more health-reducing behaviours (e.g. smoking, drinking heavily) and have higher rates of death by suicide. Women are at greater risk of ill health than men. Women live longer on average than men but face higher rates of chronic health conditions and poor mental health, especially when they have lived through family and intimate partner violence.

International Equal Pay Day is not just a commemoration – it is a challenge. It asks us to confront uncomfortable truths and to commit to change. The OECD Gender Dashboard equips us with the tools to do just that.

But data alone is not enough. Closing gender gaps requires political will, institutional reform, and cultural shifts. It means rethinking how we value work, how we support families, and how we define leadership. It means listening to the voices of women and girls, especially those who face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.

The OECD will continue refining and expanding the Dashboard, incorporating new indicators and improving data quality. Future updates may include deeper insights into digital inclusion, climate resilience, and intersectional inequalities. In the meantime, we invite governments, civil society, and citizens to explore the Dashboard, share its findings, and use it to advocate for change.

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