SDG 5 Gender equality

SDG 5 advocates an equal position in society for and equal treatment of men and women. In practice this means women and men must have equal rights in terms of education, healthcare and employment by 2030. Moreover, women must have an equal say in politics, on executive boards and in public life. And lastly, coercion and violence against women and girls must be eradicated.

  • Social and economic participation of both women and men in the Netherlands is increasing. Net labour force participation of men and women is trending upwards and is the highest in the EU27. The majority of students in higher education are women, and the trend is rising.
  • The percentage of Dutch men and women with a degree in higher education shows an upward trend and is 1.9 percentage points higher for women than for men.
  • A growing share of both men and women in the Netherlands are economically independent (i.e. with an income of more than 70 percent of the minimum wage). Relatively more men than women are economically independent, but the gap between men and women decreased from 19.7 percentage points in 2016 to 13.9 percentage points in 2022.
  • The gender pay gap, the difference in average gross hourly wage between employed men and women, in the Netherlands is narrowing. It fell from 15.5 percentage points in 2016 to 12.0 percentage points in 2023.
  • The share of Dutch members of parliament who are women is relatively high (6th in the EU in 2023). However, relatively few women hold management positions: 29.2 percent (22nd in the EU27 in 2022).

Dashboard and indicators

SDG 5 Gender equality

Use

53.3%
of students in higher education in 2023
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
25th
out of 27
in EU
in 2021
Share of women in higher education
68.9%
of women aged 15-74 in 2023
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
1st
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
Net labour participation of women
77.2%
of men aged 15-74 in 2023
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
1st
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
Net labour participation of men

Outcomes

37.3%
of women aged 15-74 have a higher education degree in 2023
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
12th
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
Women with a higher education degree
35.4%
of men aged 15-74 have a higher education degree in 2023
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
4th
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
Men with a higher education degree
68.8%
of women (15 to retirement age) earns at least 70% of minimum wage in 2022
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
Economically independent women
82.7%
of men (15 to retirement age) earns at least 70% of minimum wage in 2022
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
Economically independent men
12.0%
difference in hourly wage between men and women in 2023
The long-term trend is decreasing (increase well-being)
11th
out of 21
in EU
in 2022
Gender pay gap A)
29.2%
of management positions are held by women in 2023
22nd
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
Women in management
40.7%
of seats in parliament are held by women in 2023
6th
out of 27
in EU
in 2023
Women in parliament
62.4
years at birth in 2023
20th
out of 27
in EU
in 2021
Healthy life expectancy of women A)
64.1
years at birth in 2023
17th
out of 27
in EU
in 2021
Healthy life expectancy of men A)
3.5
in every 1,000 women aged 15 or over suffers abuse in 2023
Physical and/or sexual abuse by (ex-)partner B)
SDG 5 Gender equality
Theme Indicator Value Trend Position in EU Position in EU ranking
Use Share of women in higher education 53.3% of students in higher education in 2023 increasing (increase well-being) 25th out of 27 in 2021 Low ranking
Use Net labour participation of women 68.9% of women aged 15-74 in 2023 increasing (increase well-being) 1st out of 27 in 2022 High ranking
Use Net labour participation of men 77.2% of men aged 15-74 in 2023 increasing (increase well-being) 1st out of 27 in 2022 High ranking
Outcomes Women with a higher education degree 37.3% of women aged 15-74 have a higher education degree in 2023 increasing (increase well-being) 12th out of 27 in 2022 Middle ranking
Outcomes Men with a higher education degree 35.4% of men aged 15-74 have a higher education degree in 2023 increasing (increase well-being) 4th out of 27 in 2022 High ranking
Outcomes Economically independent women 68.8% of women (15 to retirement age) earns at least 70% of minimum wage in 2022 increasing (increase well-being)
Outcomes Economically independent men 82.7% of men (15 to retirement age) earns at least 70% of minimum wage in 2022 increasing (increase well-being)
Outcomes Gender pay gap A) 12.0% difference in hourly wage between men and women in 2023 decreasing (increase well-being) 11th out of 21 in 2022 Middle ranking
Outcomes Women in management 29.2% of management positions are held by women in 2023 22nd out of 27 in 2022 Low ranking
Outcomes Women in parliament 40.7% of seats in parliament are held by women in 2023 6th out of 27 in 2023 High ranking
Outcomes Healthy life expectancy of women A) 62.4 years at birth in 2023 20th out of 27 in 2021 Middle ranking
Outcomes Healthy life expectancy of men A) 64.1 years at birth in 2023 17th out of 27 in 2021 Middle ranking
Outcomes Physical and/or sexual abuse by (ex-)partner B) 3.5 in every 1,000 women aged 15 or over suffers abuse in 2023

Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being

SDG 5 relates to equal treatment of and an equal position in society for men and women. In practice this means women and men must have equal rights in terms of education, healthcare and employment by 2030. Moreover, women must have equal opportunities in politics, to hold positions on executive boards and in public life. To achieve this, governments need to put a stop to disadvantages suffered by women and girls in particular in a wide range of areas: coercion and violence, employment and healthcare, and influence in public life. The CBS Emancipation monitor 2022 (cbs.nl) contains results from a two-yearly survey on a wide range of aspects of women’s emancipation in the Netherlands.

Resources and opportunities concern the rights and freedoms of men and women and the opportunities they have to take advantage of them. For this category, no indicators are currently available that comply with the quality criteria of this report.

Use relates to the extent to which women and men participate in society and the economy. This part of the dashboard shows a combination of rising trends and usually high positions within the EU.

Outcomes refer to the effects of labour participation and working hours on gender equality. Economic independence, wage gap and education level indicators show favourable (green) trends from the perspective of well-being.

Subjective assessment relates to people’s experience of gender equality or inequality. For this category, no indicators are currently available that comply with the quality criteria of this report.