Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot is an annual series produced by UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Covering all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the report spotlights the latest data and evidence on gender equality, tracking trends and revealing progress and gaps. Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2026 Gender equality across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No poverty - In 2024, 9.9% of WOMEN lived in extreme poverty, compared with 9.5% of men. The gender gap was largest among young adults aged 15-34. Globally, WOMEN account for only 19% of ministers leading economic portfolios - highlighting the persistent gap between those most affected by poverty and those shaping economic policy. Zero hunger - At the current pace, 1.1 BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS could still be food insecure by 2030. Closing gender gaps in agricultural productivity could lift 45 MILLION PEOPLE out of food insecurity. Good health and well-being - WOMEN held just 26.3% of health minister positions in 2026, virtually unchanged since 2015, while WOMEN’S HEALTH receives only around 6% of private healthcare investment globally. Quality education - 273 million children, adolescents and youth were out of school in 2024, with RURAL GIRLS and those from the poorest households at highest risk . Higher shares of WOMEN in parliament track greater education spending, improved primary completion rates and progress towards gender parity in school enrolment Gender equality - NOT ONE SDG 5 TARGET IS ON TRACK to be met by 2030. At the current rate of progress, it will take 171 YEARS TO ACHIEVE SDG 5. Between 2019 and 2025, 99 LEGAL REFORMS helped remove discriminatory laws and strengthen legal frameworks for gender equality. Yet 51% of 131 countries still have significant legal gaps, and NO COUNTRY has achieved full legal equality. Nearly 1 IN 3 WOMEN globally have experienced partner or sexual violence in their lifetime. In the past 12 months alone, 316 MILLION WOMEN experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner. Technology-facilitated violence against WOMEN AND GIRLS was not addressed by a single leader during the UN General Assembly sessions in 2024 and 2025. Nearly 1 IN 5 GIRLS is married before age 18, and an estimated 230 MILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS worldwide are survivors of female genital mutilation. WOMEN AND GIRLS spend 2.5 TIMES MORE HOURS than men on unpaid domestic and care work, a gender gap that remains deeply entrenched. WOMEN held 27.4% of seats in national parliaments in 2026, up from 22.3% in 2015. Yet WOMEN’s representation in local governments has STAGNATED at 35.6% in 2025. Only 56.3% of WOMEN aged 15-49 who are married or in a union have FULL DECISION-MAKING POWER over their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Nearly two-thirds of countries provide NO OR LOW LEGAL PROTECTION for women’s land rights, while fewer than 30% ensure joint land registration or women’s participation in land governance. In 2025, 78% of WOMEN owned a mobile phone, compared with 87% of men - leaving millions of WOMEN without a basic gateway to information, services, finance and economic opportunity. Only 1 IN 4 COUNTRIES has the systems needed to make gender equality a transparent and trackable public spending priority. Clean water and sanitation - WOMEN AND GIRLS are the primary water collectors in 70% of households without water on premises. In 2025, only 49% of health-care facilities had improved toilets with menstrual hygiene facilities. Affordable and clean energy - In 2024, global electricity access stagnated at 92%, leaving 326 MILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS still without electricity. Decent work and economic growth - In 2026, just 63.9% of WOMEN aged 25-54 participated in the labour force, compared with 92.0% of men. FEMALE MANAGERS earned less per hour than male managers in 80% of countries with data between 2020 and 2025. Industry, innovation and infrastructure - In 2023, WOMEN accounted for just 31.4% of researchers globally. WOMEN account for only around 22% of AI professionals globally and hold fewer than 14% of senior AI leadership positions. Reduced inequalities - Only 23% of WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES are employed, compared with 46% of women without disabilities and 34% of men with disabilities. Sustainable cities and communities - The share of urban residents with access to open public spaces fell from 48.0% to 45.9% between 2020 and 2025, limiting the spaces in which WOMEN can move, work, and participate freely in city life. In Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the European Union, WOMEN’S representation in mayoral seats is only around HALF of their representation in local deliberative bodies. Responsible consumption and production - Some 2.9 BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS live in countries highly or very highly exposed to climate change and geophysical hazards. WOMEN account for only 27% of national cabinet ministers with environmental portfolios. Peace, justice and strong institutions - Nearly 8 IN 10 PEACE PROCESSES worldwide did not include WOMEN as negotiators or mediators at all. Over twice as many cases of conflict-related sexual violence were verified in 2025 compared to 2024. Partnerships for the goals - Funding for gender equality is shrinking: bilateral allocable aid with gender equality objectives fell by 13% between 2023 and 2024. Funding to WOMEN’S RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS fell by 28% over the same period. Women in power From parliaments and courts to boardrooms and community movements, women’s leadership drives progress across all 17 SDGs. Yet equal representation remains out of reach – and hard-won gains are now slipping as funding falls, civic spaces narrow, and violence against women in politics rises. The data shows that when women lead, entire communities benefit. But while women make up half the population, they hold just a fraction of decision-making power. The latest gender data are clear: gender parity in leadership and decision-making is far from realized. On political leadership alone, parity in national parliaments will not be reached for another 63 years. Of 175 chief justices globally, 144 are men and only 31 are women. A 2026 survey of national gender equality mechanisms reveals that one in three saw an erosion in institutional power over the past two years, among other setbacks. The result is an institutional architecture that exists on paper but has diminishing power in practice. The consequences are visible: reduced funding for gender equality, less accountability for laws and policies that address women’s needs, and weaker implementation of existing commitments. However, the latest data show that when women lead, gender-responsive policies are prioritized, institutions are held accountable, and progress is made across all SDGs, including in education, environmental protection, poverty reduction, and more. A different, more equitable path is possible: Reverse the dismantling of vital institutions Combat discriminatory social norms Invest in inclusive leadership and women’s rights organizations To read the full report, click here.