On 24th October, the European Institute on Gender Equality published its 2023 Gender Equality Index.
The Gender Equality Index assigns a score from 1 to 100 to the EU and its Member States. A score of 100 indicates that a country has achieved full equality between women and men.The Index also gives specific information, including by disability, in different areas of lives such as education, employment, economic status and health.
The data for 2023 Index is mostly from 2021 and 2022.
The Index has surpassed 70 points for the first time, showing a growth of 1.6 points since 2022. The increase in the overall EU score is the highest year-on-year rise since the first edition of the Index in 2013.
What do we find about women with disabilities?
The EU average shows that:
- 20% of women with disabilities are in full-time employment, comparing to 29% of men with disabilities, 48% of women without disabilities and 64% of men without disabilities (population aged 15-89). However, the career prospect score of women with disabilities is slightly higher than that of men with disabilities, but below that of men and women without disabilities.
- 17% of women with disabilities graduate from tertiary education, comparing to 18% of men with disabilities, 32% of women without disabilities and 29% of men without disabilities.
- 22% of women with disabilities are at risk of poverty, comparing to 20% of men with disabilities, 16% of women without disabilities and 15% of men without disabilities. The mean monthly earning and mean equivalised net income of women with disabilities is lower than the one of men with disabilities, and men and women without disabilities.
- Women with disabilities are carers: 28% of women with disabilities are caring for and educating their children or grandchildren, elderly or persons with disabilities, every day, comparing to 20% of men with disabilities, 26% of men without disabilities and 40% of women without disabilities. As many women with disabilities do housework than women without disabilities (78%), which is a much higher rate than men with disabilities (40%- and men without disabilities (30%).
- 18% of women with disabilities perceived themselves in good or very good health, comparing to 21% of men with disabilities, 84% of women without disabilities and 87% of men without disabilities.
The 2023 thematic report which focuses on the European Green Deal reveals that women with disabilities face difficulties in keeping their housewarms and paying the energy bills:
- 12% of women with disabilities and 11% of men with disabilities are unable to keep their home adequately warm
- 8% of women with disabilities and 9% of men with disabilities have arrears on utility bills.
Related information
- Read the thematic report of the 2023 Gender Equality Index.
- (Re)-watch the conference on the 2023 Gender Equality Index.