In 2025, the World Economic Forum estimates gender inequality could cost the global economy $12.3 trillion every year. That kind of loss sits alongside day to day realities like 25.4 million women and girls displaced in 2021 and the fact that only 7.6% of executive committee roles in S&P 500 companies were held by women in 2023. Let’s look at the full range of indicators that connect earning power, health, safety, and leadership.
Key Takeaways
- 25.4 million women and girls were displaced globally in 2021
- 20.2% gender pay gap in the United States (median weekly earnings, 2022)
- $12.3 trillion projected global annual economic loss from gender inequality by 2025 (World Economic Forum estimate)
- $1 trillion estimated annual economic benefit from closing gender gaps in employment and entrepreneurship in the OECD area (OECD estimate)
- 39% of employed women were in managerial roles or professional roles in 2023 in OECD countries (share of employment)
- 7.6% of executive committee roles in S&P 500 companies were held by women in 2023
- Women held 43% of tertiary enrollment in OECD countries in 2023
- $1.1 trillion global market opportunity for women’s health diagnostics and devices by 2030 (Frost & Sullivan estimate)
- 2.4 million women and girls experience unsafe childbirth each year (WHO global estimate)
- Nearly 800 women die each day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth (WHO)
- In the EU-27, 60.4% of women reported experiencing discrimination at work in 2021 (Eurobarometer)
- 35% of women in the EU report discrimination based on sex in employment (Eurobarometer, latest available)
- 1 in 4 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point (UN Women/WHO)
From displacement and violence to pay gaps and leadership underrepresentation, gender inequality still costs lives and economies worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics1 stats
01
25.4 million women and girls were displaced globally in 2021
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
In the Demographics category, 25.4 million women and girls were displaced globally in 2021, underscoring how displacement is affecting large numbers of women worldwide.
02 · Category
Labor Force1 stats
01
20.2% gender pay gap in the United States (median weekly earnings, 2022)
Interpretation
Labor Force Interpretation
In the US labor force, women still face a 20.2% gender pay gap based on median weekly earnings in 2022, showing that equal pay remains a major barrier within this workforce category.
03 · Category
Economy & Wages8 stats
01
$12.3 trillion projected global annual economic loss from gender inequality by 2025 (World Economic Forum estimate)
02
$1 trillion estimated annual economic benefit from closing gender gaps in employment and entrepreneurship in the OECD area (OECD estimate)
03
39% of employed women were in managerial roles or professional roles in 2023 in OECD countries (share of employment)
04
Women are 38% of agricultural employment in developing countries (FAO estimate)
05
Women own 32% of land globally (FAO gender and land tenure estimate)
06
Women represent 45% of microenterprise owners globally (IFC estimate in gender finance materials)
07
Women are 36% of global financial inclusion accounts (adults with an account) gap vs men persists (World Bank Global Findex 2021)
08
Women are 33% of internet users globally (ITU estimate)
Interpretation
Economy & Wages Interpretation
The economy and wages picture shows how gender inequality is not just a social issue, since the World Economic Forum projects a $12.3 trillion global annual economic loss by 2025, while closing employment and entrepreneurship gaps could add about $1 trillion each year in OECD countries.
04 · Category
Leadership & Boards1 stats
01
7.6% of executive committee roles in S&P 500 companies were held by women in 2023
Interpretation
Leadership & Boards Interpretation
In the Leadership and Boards landscape, women held just 7.6% of executive committee roles in S&P 500 companies in 2023, underscoring how underrepresented they remain at the top decision-making level.
More related reading
05 · Category
Education & Stem1 stats
01
Women held 43% of tertiary enrollment in OECD countries in 2023
Interpretation
Education & Stem Interpretation
In Education and STEM, women made up 43% of tertiary enrollment across OECD countries in 2023, showing they are a substantial but still underrepresented share in the pipeline.
06 · Category
Healthcare & Safety6 stats
01
$1.1 trillion global market opportunity for women’s health diagnostics and devices by 2030 (Frost & Sullivan estimate)
02
2.4 million women and girls experience unsafe childbirth each year (WHO global estimate)
03
Nearly 800 women die each day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth (WHO)
04
1 in 3 women worldwide experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime (WHO)
05
136 million girls and women alive today who have undergone female genital mutilation (UNICEF estimate)
06
Women accounted for 51% of the global population of people living with HIV aged 15+ in 2022 (UNAIDS)
Interpretation
Healthcare & Safety Interpretation
Healthcare and safety gaps are still massive for women worldwide, with nearly 800 women dying each day from preventable pregnancy and childbirth causes and 2.4 million experiencing unsafe childbirth every year, underscoring an urgent need for better diagnosis, prevention, and protection systems.
07 · Category
Justice & Rights3 stats
01
In the EU-27, 60.4% of women reported experiencing discrimination at work in 2021 (Eurobarometer)
02
35% of women in the EU report discrimination based on sex in employment (Eurobarometer, latest available)
03
1 in 4 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point (UN Women/WHO)
Interpretation
Justice & Rights Interpretation
In the EU, 60.4% of women reported discrimination at work in 2021, showing that justice and rights concerns like workplace discrimination remain a widespread and urgent reality for women.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Women Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/women-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Women Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/women-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Women Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/women-statistics.
Sources & references
21 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+6 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)