Netherlands
Gender Gap

In the Netherlands, the gender gap refers to 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, Dutch 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.

Education is generally equitable in the Netherlands, with both men and women having access to high-quality education. 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.

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 the Netherlands requires concerted efforts from government, businesses, civil society, and individuals. Policies promoting gender equality, such as affirmative action measures and campaigns to challenge gender stereotypes, are essential for fostering a more inclusive society.

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

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World Economic Forum

Global Gender Gap Report The Netherlands

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: 28 (out of 146 countries)
Score: 0.777
› report

2021
Rank: 31 (out of 156 countries)
Score: 0.762

2020
Rank: 38 (out of 153 countries)
Score: 0,736

2018
Rank: 27 (out of 149 countries)
Score: 0,747

2017
Rank: 32 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0.737

2016
Rank: 16 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0.756

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UN Women NL

Women Count Data Hub: Netherlands

Globally, some progress on women’s rights has been achieved. In the Netherlands, the adolescent birth rate is 2.6 per 1,000 women aged 15–19 as of 2018, down from 2.9 per 1,000 in 2017. As of February 2021, 33.3% of seats in parliament were held by women.

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

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