The latest World Economic Forum gender‑gap report shows that the Netherlands is once again slipping in global emancipation rankings. This year, the country ranks 46th, three places lower than last year. The current position far below its historical ranking among the world’s most gender‑equal nations. The country now sits just above Zimbabwe, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belarus. The placement underscores how quickly other countries are advancing while Dutch progress slows.
Report
Researchers from the University of Amsterdam contributed to the report. They calculate that the gender gap in the Netherlands has closed by 75%. Although that may appear substantial, it marks a decline from 75.6% last year and 77.5% the year before, signalling that the gap is widening rather than narrowing. The trend is particularly striking given the Netherlands’ long‑standing reputation as a leader in social equality.
Economic Participation
The most significant setback is in economic participation, where the Netherlands ranks 77th worldwide. Employment figures show that 64% of women have a job, compared to 73% of men. However, women are far more likely to work part‑time and far less likely to hold managerial positions. Although the salary gap is slowly narrowing, other countries are closing it at a faster pace, pushing the Netherlands further down the list.
These findings highlight structural issues in the Dutch labour market, including limited childcare availability, entrenched part‑time work culture, and slow progress in promoting women to leadership roles. Researchers note that while the Netherlands is improving, it is doing so more slowly than its peers, causing it to lose ground in international comparisons.
Political Representation
Women also face barriers in political participation. They are relatively well represented in the House of Representatives, yet remain underrepresented in the national government. As a result, the Netherlands ranks 38th globally for political empowerment, just below Mozambique and Guyana. This contrast suggests that while parliamentary representation has improved, broader political influence remains uneven and progress at the highest levels of government is limited.
A Long-Term Decline
The Netherlands once consistently ranked among the top 15 countries with the smallest gender gap. Throughout the previous decade, it hovered around 30th place, maintaining a reputation for strong equality policies. Last year, however, it dropped sharply from 28th to 43rd, and the downward slide continues with this year’s ranking.
Amsterdam researcher Henk Volberda argues that Dutch emancipation policy has stagnated. He believes the Netherlands should follow the example of Scandinavian countries, which lead the world in parental leave, childcare provisions, and policies that help parents balance work and family life. Volberda even advocates for establishing a Ministry of Women’s Affairs, saying such a move could help accelerate progress and restore the Netherlands’ position as a frontrunner in gender equality.
Global Context
Globally, the gender gap has closed by 69.2%, a slight improvement from last year. Yet at the current pace, researchers estimate it will take 120 years to achieve full equality. The top performers remain familiar: Iceland leads for the 17th consecutive year, with 93% of its gender gap closed, followed by Finland and Norway. Namibia has risen impressively from eighth to fourth place, demonstrating how targeted policy can accelerate progress.
At the bottom of the ranking are Pakistan, Iran, and Chad. The list covers 145 countries, offering a broad view of global disparities and the varying speeds at which nations are addressing them.
@anp \ NEWSBRAINPORT
