Finland
Gender Gap

In Finland, the gender gap refers to disparities between men and women across various aspects of society, including employment, education, and political representation. Despite significant progress in gender equality, disparities persist and impact women’s opportunities and outcomes.

In the workforce, Finnish women still face challenges such as wage gaps, limited access to leadership positions, and a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work. Efforts have been made to address these issues, but women continue to earn less on average than men and are underrepresented in senior roles.

Education is generally equitable in Finland, with both men and women having high rates of educational attainment. However, women are underrepresented in certain fields such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), which limits their opportunities for career advancement and economic empowerment.

In terms of political representation, Finland has made significant strides in gender equality, with women holding prominent positions in government and decision-making bodies. However, there is still room for improvement in achieving equal representation in all levels of political leadership.

Addressing the gender gap in Finland requires continued efforts from government, businesses, civil society, and individuals. Policies promoting gender equality, such as parental leave policies and initiatives to encourage women’s participation in male-dominated fields, are crucial for creating a more inclusive society.

By acknowledging and actively working to address the gender gap, Finland can further advance gender equality and create a society where individuals of all genders have equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to society’s progress.


World Economic Forum

Global Gender Gap Report Finland

The Global Gender Gap Report benchmarks countries on their progress towards gender parity across four thematic dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.

2023
Rank: 3 (out of 146 countries)
Score: 0.863
report

2020
Rank: 3 (out of 153 countries)
Score: 0.832

2017
Rank: 3 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0,823

2016
Rank: 2 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0.845


UN Women Suomi

Women Count Data Hub: Finland

Globally, some progress on women’s rights has been achieved. In Finland, the adolescent birth rate is 4.3 per 1,000 women aged 15–19 as of 2018, down from 4.9 per 1,000 in 2017. As of February 2021, 46% of seats in parliament were held by women.

Country Fact Sheet
> data.unwomen.org/country/finland