Gender inequality produces a projected 12.3 trillion dollar annual loss for the global economy. Displacement affects 25.4 million women and girls worldwide. Women hold 7.6 percent of executive committee roles in S&P 500 companies.
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
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
Economy and wages are being held back by large gender gaps, with the World Economic Forum projecting a $12.3 trillion loss from gender inequality by 2025 even as closing employment and entrepreneurship gaps could add about $1 trillion annually in the OECD area.
02 · 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
Across healthcare and safety for women, the scale of need is stark, with nearly 800 women dying each day from preventable pregnancy and childbirth causes and 1 in 3 experiencing physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, alongside major ongoing burdens like 136 million living with female genital mutilation.
03 · 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’s Justice and Rights landscape, a striking 60.4% of women reported experiencing discrimination at work in 2021 and 35% faced sex-based discrimination in employment, while 1 in 4 women and girls also experience physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, showing how far legal and workplace protections still need to go.
More related reading
04 · 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 shaping the lived realities of huge numbers of females worldwide.
05 · Category
Labor Force1 stats
01
20.2% gender pay gap in the United States (median weekly earnings, 2022)
Interpretation
Labor Force Interpretation
In the United States labor force, women experience a 20.2% gender pay gap in median weekly earnings in 2022, showing that earnings inequality remains a major challenge within women’s workforce participation.
06 · Category
Industry Overview2 stats
01
7.6% of executive committee roles in S&P 500 companies were held by women in 2023
02
Women held 43% of tertiary enrollment in OECD countries in 2023
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
From an industry overview perspective, women are still significantly underrepresented in top corporate leadership, holding only 7.6% of executive committee roles in S&P 500 companies in 2023, even as they make up 43% of tertiary enrollment in OECD countries in 2023.
report visual · Comparison
Women’s representation and inclusion—at a glance
Women’s shares across key domains show both progress and persistent gaps in education, work, and digital/financial access.
Women held 43% of tertiary enrollment in OECD countries in 202343%
39% of employed women were in managerial roles or professional roles in 2023 in OECD countries (share of employment)
39%
Women are 36% of global financial inclusion accounts (adults with an account) gap vs men persists (World Bank Global Fin
36%
Women are 33% of internet users globally (ITU estimate)
33%
source-verifiedoecd.org · worldbank.org · itu.int2023
Reference
Cite This Report
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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)