Full Breakdown
Women in Managerial Positions in the EU: 2024 Statistics
3/3/2026, 7:58:04 AM
Overview of Gender Representation in Management
In 2024, women held 35.2% of all managerial positions across the European Union, a notable increase from 31.8% in 2014, according to data from Eurostat. This upward trend reflects a broader movement towards gender equality in leadership roles within the EU. The representation of women in management varies significantly by age, with 39.0% of managers aged 15-39 being women, compared to 34.4% among those aged 40-64 and only 26.5% among managers aged 65 and older.
Country-Specific Insights
Among EU member states, Sweden leads with the highest percentage of women in managerial roles at 44.4%, followed closely by Latvia at 43.4% and Poland at 41.8%. Conversely, Cyprus recorded the lowest representation, with only 25.3% of managerial positions held by women, followed by Croatia at 27.6% and Italy at 27.9%.
Notably, since 2014, 24 EU countries have seen an increase in the share of women in managerial positions. Luxembourg experienced the largest growth, with an increase of 13.7 percentage points, followed by Malta at 10.1 percentage points. Cyprus also saw a significant rise of 7.9 percentage points, despite still having the lowest overall percentage.
Trends Over Time
The data indicates a gradual but positive shift in gender representation in management roles across the EU. In Latvia, for instance, the number of women in management has remained stable, with just over 39,000 women managers reported in 2024, a slight increase from 38,000 in 2014. The total number of individuals in management positions in Latvia rose from 87,000 in 2014 to 90,000 in 2024.
Criticism & Opposition
While the overall trend shows improvement, some critics point out that the progress is uneven and that certain countries, like Slovenia, have experienced declines in women's representation in management, with a decrease of 3.8 percentage points since 2014. This highlights ongoing challenges in achieving gender parity across all EU nations.
Official Statements & Responses
Eurostat emphasizes that these statistics are part of a broader initiative to promote gender equality and are published in conjunction with International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8. The agency's findings aim to raise awareness about the importance of women's representation in leadership roles.
Verbatim Quotes
This comprehensive overview of women's representation in managerial positions within the EU underscores both the progress made and the challenges that remain in achieving gender equality in leadership roles.
