France
Gender Gap

In France, the gender gap encompasses disparities between men and women across various aspects of society, including employment, education, and political representation. Despite advancements, significant inequalities persist, impacting women’s opportunities and outcomes.

In the workforce, French women face challenges such as wage discrepancies, limited access to leadership positions, and a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work. Despite efforts to address these issues, women continue to earn less on average than men and are underrepresented in senior roles in the workforce.

Educationally, while French women often excel academically and attain high levels of education, they remain underrepresented in fields such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Societal expectations and stereotypes can hinder women’s pursuit of careers in these areas, limiting their professional opportunities and economic empowerment.

Political representation also presents a gap, with women holding fewer leadership positions in government and decision-making bodies. Although efforts have been made to increase female participation in politics, women remain a minority in elected offices and legislative chambers.

Addressing the gender gap in France necessitates collaborative efforts from government, businesses, civil society, and individuals. Policies promoting gender equality, such as affirmative action measures and campaigns to challenge gender norms, are essential for fostering a more inclusive society.

By acknowledging and actively addressing the gender gap, France can create a more equitable environment where individuals of all genders have equal opportunities to succeed and contribute to society’s progress.


World Economic Forum

Global Gender Gap Report France

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: 40 (out of 146 countries)
Score: 0.756
report

2020
Rank: 15 (out of 153 countries)
Score: 0.781

2017
Rank: 11 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0.778

2016
Rank: 17 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0.755


ONU Femmes France

Women Count Data Hub: France

Globally, some progress on women’s rights has been achieved. In France, 83.3% of legal frameworks that promote, enforce and monitor gender equality under the SDG indicator, with a focus on violence against women, are in place. The adolescent birth rate is 8.6 per 1,000 women aged 15–19 as of 2018, up from 8 per 1,000 in 2017. As of February 2021, 39.5% of seats in parliament were held by women. In 2005, 95.5% of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) had their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.

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