UN Women Highlights Gender Equality Shortfall Ahead of 2030 SDGs

• The 2025 SDG Gender Snapshot report was published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and UN Women
• Only five years remain until 2030, and gender equality targets are off course
• More than 100 data sources across all 17 SDGs were examined in the report

The 2025 SDG Gender Snapshot, issued by UN Women and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, highlights that all of the gender equality goals are off track at five years before the deadline for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report used data from over 100 sources from the 17 SDGs and found stagnation for women in terms of poverty, violence, political representation, and economic participation.

Poverty among women has been at about 10 percent since 2020, and the majority of those living in poverty are in sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia.

Despite these challenges, there has been progress in some areas. The rate of maternal death has fallen by almost 40 percent since 2000, and girls are now more likely to complete school than ever before.

Technology is to be seen as a vital pathway to further progress, since the internet usage rates are 70 percent of men and 65 percent of women. Closing this gap would help 343.5 million girls and women by 2050, lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, and contribute €1.5 trillion by 2030.

The report also identifies key remaining barriers to gender equality, including backlash against women's rights, closing civic space, and decline in funding that have resulted in a 25 percent decrease in available gender data and a decline in policies that could be developed

The global representation of women is still alarmingly low at 27.2 percent of parliamentary seats, 35.5 percent of local government positions, and 30 percent of management roles. At the current rate it could take almost another century to achieve gender parity in leadership.

In celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, the report has set 2025 as a moment for action and highlighted that gender equality is fundamental to peace, development, and human rights and that political will and determined efforts from government are the essential actions required.

Six priority areas were identified for urgent focus: bridging the digital divide, ending poverty, elimination of violence, ensuring full and equal decision-making power, promoting peace and security, and climate justice.