The Gender Equality Index is a composite indicator that was developed to measure the relative position of women and men across the EU. It enables comparisons between EU Member States and tracks progress in gender equality over time.
The Index was first released in 2013, followed by reviews in 2017 and 2025. As policy priorities shift, societies evolve and data infrastructure improves, regular evaluations are essential to maintain an indicator’s relevance and methodological robustness.
The 2025 review marks an important and timely update, strengthening the Index’s rigour and ability to reflect real change. More than just a technical refresh, it reaffirms the Index’s role as a trusted, forward-looking tool for advancing gender equality across the EU.
The revised Index for 2025 opens a new chapter, setting a new baseline for gender equality that is no longer comparable with the previous Index scores.
With a refreshed structure and new data sources, the Index continues to track six key domains defining our everyday lives: work, money, knowledge, time, power and health. In addition, it retains two critical domains that cut across all areas: violence and intersecting inequalities.
Based on 27 carefully selected indicators, the 2025 Index aligns with major EU gender equality policies and responds directly to policymakers’ needs. It offers a powerful tool to explore and compare how inequalities affect our lives at work, at home or in public life, and to propel action for a more equal Europe.
