Italy
Gender Gap

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

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

Educationally, while Italian women generally perform well academically and have high rates of educational attainment, they remain underrepresented in certain 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 underrepresented in elected offices and legislative chambers.

Addressing the gender gap in Italy requires concerted efforts from government, businesses, civil society, and individuals. Policies promoting gender equality, such as pay equity legislation and initiatives to encourage women’s leadership, are crucial for creating a more inclusive society.

By acknowledging and actively working to address the gender gap, Italy 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 Italy

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: 79 (out of 146 countries)
Score: 0.705
report

2021
Rank: 63 (out of 156 countries)
Score: 0.721

2020
Rank: 76 (out of 153 countries)
Score: 0.707

2017
Rank: 82 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0,692

2016
Rank: 50 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0.719


UN Women Italy

Women Count Data Hub: Italy

Globally, some progress on women’s rights has been achieved. In Italy, the adolescent birth rate is 4.1 per 1,000 women aged 15–19 as of 2018, down from 4.4 per 1,000 in 2017. As of February 2021, 35.7% of seats in parliament were held by women.

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