How do gender differences play out across work, income and power in the Nordic countries? The Nordic Statistics Database tracks data on 33 gender equality indicators and offers a concise and comparable overview of gender differences across Nordic societies.
The cross-sectoral indicators span demography, family and care, health, education, labour markets, income, and power and influence. The landing page provides an entry point to explore gender equality in the Nordic Region through interactive visualisations and filters. See highlights from education, labour market and income below. Trace trends further through the Nordic Statistics database and download the underlying data for further analysis.
Women’s educational advantage
Educational attainment in the Nordics has risen steadily, with women now more likely than men to complete tertiary education. Yet strong gender patterns persist in field of study. Women dominate in health, welfare and social sciences, while men are over-represented in engineering and technical fields.
The indicators also show clear gender differences in educational choices. Women are overrepresented in fields such as health and welfare and social sciences. Men dominate fields like engineering, manufacturing and construction. These patterns also shape occupational choices and labour markets and contribute to differences in earnings and career trajectories later in life.
(See the source matrix for a broader coverage of educational fields.)
Gender equality and the Nordic labour market
The Nordic countries are often associated with high employment and relatively small gender gaps. The data confirms that employment rates for women remain close to those of men, reflecting long-standing investments in childcare, parental leave and education.
At the same time, the indicators also highlight persistent structural differences. Women are still more likely to work part-time, which supports labour market participation but also affects lifetime earnings and pension outcomes.
Occupational gender segregation remains evident as well. Female-dominated sectors include care, health and education. Sectors like construction, transport and IT are among male-dominated fields of work. These patterns are closely linked to continued differences in pay.
Power, influence and income gaps
Despite progress, gender differences remain visible in income and decision-making. The gender pay gap, measured as the difference in average gross hourly earnings, has narrowed over time. Nevertheless, it remains visible in all Nordic countries and women still earn less than men on average.
In national parliaments, representation is relatively balanced by international standards, yet men remain more frequently elected. On corporate boards, women are increasingly included as members. Nevertheless, leadership positions are still predominantly held by men.
Nordic Statistics Database: your hub for Nordic data
Get a full overview of key trends on the Nordic gender equality indicators landing page. The page brings together interactive visualisations, filters and direct links to downloadable data. All graphs link to the underlying source matrices in the Nordic Statistics Database, enabling further exploration and reuse. Quick and easy access to cross-Nordic data makes it possible to compare countries, follow trends over time and supports further analysis.
Read also more about Nordregio and our work on Nordic statistics.
