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This is the latest edition in 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.
The latest gender data are clear: gender parity in leadership and decision-making is far from realised. 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 prioritised, 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 organisations
