North Macedonia gender gap persists in government leadership

A report by the State Audit Office (DZR) reveals a significant gender gap in leadership roles within North Macedonia’s central government. While women constitute 57.5% of the 110,885 employees in the public sector, their representation decreases sharply at higher decision-making levels.

In the Assembly, women's participation reached 39.2% in 2024, a figure higher than in 83% of EU member states. However, the audit noted that since the first Assembly was formed in 1991, no woman has been elected President of the Assembly.

The executive branch shows a more pronounced disparity. Between 2014 and 2024, the percentage of female ministers fluctuated between 14% and 31%. In the current 2024–2028 government, women hold only 15% of ministerial positions (3 out of 20), and none of the five deputy presidents of the Government are women. The audit concluded that effective policies to strengthen women's roles in leadership positions have not been established between 2020 and 2024.