Despite a slight improvement, gender equality remains a major challenge in the EU. Presented on Thursday 12 December to the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), the ‘Gender Equality Index 2024’, published two days earlier by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), gives the EU a score of 71/100.
Although up 0.8 points since 2023 and 7.9 points since 2010, this result reflects fragile and uneven progress.
Sweden remains in first place with 82, while Romania remains at the bottom of the list with 57.5. Malta, the Czech Republic and Lithuania show the best progress, but eight Member States, including Poland and Hungary, are stagnating or falling back.
Equality in decision-making is the main driver for change (+19.5 points since 2010). However, progress remains limited in key areas such as health and time management. The latter reflects the division of daily tasks between women and men, including unpaid care work and domestic responsibilities.
Women continue to bear a disproportionate burden, which hinders their professional opportunities, leisure activities and personal development.
Carlien Scheele, Director of the EIGE, pointed out that bold and sustained action is needed to preserve what has been achieved and accelerate progress. The report also condemns gender-based violence, a major structural obstacle.
The 2025 edition will provide updated data from the latest European survey on violence against women (see EUROPE 13537/21), to guide policy decisions.
Read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/ery (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)