Europe leads global efforts in closing the gender gap

Europe has reclaimed its position as the global leader in closing the gender gap, according to new data from the World Economic Forum (WEF). The continent has closed 75.7% of its overall gender gap this year, narrowly overtaking North America. Despite this progress, full parity is not expected to be achieved for another 70 years.

While Europe leads in political representation with a score of 37%, it ranks fifth in economic participation and opportunity at 69.5%, trailing North America. The region maintains near parity in educational attainment (99.5%) and health and survival (96.9%). Seven European economies, including Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Ireland, are among the world's top performers.

In France, specific challenges persist within the workforce. A Great Place To Work survey of over 4,000 employees found that 77% of female employees believe women have fewer chances to reach management positions than men. Additionally, only 33% of women feel their work is fairly compensated, compared to 45% of men, reflecting a 14% wage gap for identical working hours as measured by Insee in 2024.