# Gender pay gap trends in Europe

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/gender-pay-gap-trends-in-europe
> Updated: 2026-09-02T13:41:49.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 4.

Recent data from various European nations highlights differing trends in the gender pay gap. 

In Sweden, the gap has remained largely stagnant since 2019, with women earning approximately 9.9 percent less than men. This lack of progress is attributed to a gender-segregated labor market, prompting the ‘Lön hela dagen’ network to advocate for reforms such as state-funded wage increases for specific sectors and better access to venture capital for women.

Hungary has seen a slight reduction in its wage disparity, which fell from 17.8 percent to 16.9 percent between 2023 and 2024. Despite this decrease, the country remains among the highest in the European Union for wage inequality. 

Switzerland has reported a continuous narrowing of the gap. According to the Swiss Wage Structure Survey 2024, the average gap decreased to 15.7 percent, down from 16.2 percent in 2022. While structural factors like education and professional position account for much of the difference, an unexplained wage gap of 6.5 percent remained, averaging 640 Swiss francs gross per month. 

Sectoral differences were noted in Switzerland, where the private sector reported a total gap of 17.2 percent (with a 6.7 percent unexplained portion), while the public sector saw a lower gap of 12.8 percent (with a 5.9 percent unexplained portion). The Swiss Federal Statistical Office cautioned that the unexplained portion should not be viewed as a “direct quantitative measure of wage discrimination,” as the data may not capture all wage-relevant characteristics.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-02: Switzerland gender pay gap decreases to 15.7 percent

Switzerland's gender pay gap fell to 15.7 percent in 2024 from 16.2 percent in 2022, according to new federal data. The unexplained portion of the gap stands at 6.5 percent.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/switzerland-gender-pay-gap-decreases-to-157-percent

### 2026-08-31: Switzerland gender pay gap continues to narrow in 2024

Switzerland's gender pay gap fell to 15.7% in 2024. While structural factors explain much of the difference, an unexplained gap of 6.5% (640 CHF per month) persists between men and women.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/switzerland-gender-pay-gap-continues-to-narrow-in-2024

### 2026-08-19: Hungary gender pay gap narrows but remains among EU's highest

Hungary's gender pay gap fell to 16.9 percent in 2024, but the improvement matches the EU average, leaving the country among the four worst in the union for wage inequality.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hungary-gender-pay-gap-narrows-but-remains-among-eus-highest

### 2026-08-12: Sweden faces stagnant gender pay gap as equality progress stalls

Sweden's gender pay gap has remained stagnant since 2019, with women earning roughly 10 percent less than men, prompting calls for structural reforms and national political action.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sweden-faces-stagnant-gender-pay-gap-as-equality-progress-stalls

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Cite as: Gender pay gap trends in Europe. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/gender-pay-gap-trends-in-europe