Netherlands drops in global gender equality rankings

The Netherlands has dropped to 46th place on the Global Gender Gap Index, according to the latest report by the World Economic Forum. This marks a continued decline from previous years, where the country once ranked within the top 15.

Research conducted by the University of Amsterdam indicates that while gaps in education and healthcare have largely closed, significant disparities remain in economic participation and political influence. In the economic sector, the Netherlands ranks 77th globally; women are more likely to hold part-time positions and fewer leadership roles compared to men. Although the wage gap is narrowing, other nations are making faster progress.

Politically, despite a slight increase of women in the House of Representatives, female representation in the national government has declined. Henk Volberda, a professor at the University of Amsterdam, noted that the country is shifting ‘from leader to laggard’ due to stagnant emancipation policies. He suggested that the Netherlands could benefit from adopting Scandinavian models, such as improved childcare and parental leave, to better support the combination of work and family life.