What Gender Pay Gaps Look Like Worldwide

Our World In Data
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Giving Compass’ Take:

• Our World In Data crunches the numbers behind gender pay gaps across the globe, finding that — even though those gaps have shrunk over time — there is still a wide chasm of economic inequality.

• What can nonprofits due to make sure there are better trends in the future? Hiring women and giving female entrepreneurs more opportunities would be a start, while development organizations can look into technology that frees up women’s time to pursue education and career training.

• Here’s some more advice on narrowing the gender gap, both in America and abroad.

In this entry we present data and research on economic inequalities between men and women. Here is an overview of some of the points we cover below:

  • All over the world men tend to earn more than women.
  • Women are often underrepresented in senior positions within firms, while at the same time they tend to be overrepresented in low-paying jobs.
  • In many countries men are more likely to own land and control productive assets than women.
  • Women often have limited influence over important household decisions, including how their own personal earned income is spent.

Differences in pay capture differences along many possible dimensions, including worker education, experience and occupation. When the pay gap is calculated by comparing all male workers to all female workers – irrespective of differences along these additional dimensions – the result is the ‘raw’ or ‘unadjusted’ pay gap.

Cross-country data on the unadjusted gender pay gap is patchy, but the most complete source in terms of coverage is the United Nation’s International Labour Organization (ILO). The following visualization presents this data. You can add observations by clicking on the option ‘add country’ at the bottom of the chart.

The estimates shown below correspond to differences between average hourly earnings of men and women (expressed as a percentage of average hourly earnings of men), and cover all workers irrespective of whether they work full time or part time.

As we can see: (i) in most countries the gap is positive; and (ii) there are large differences in the size of this gap across countries.

Read the full article about what gender pay gaps look like worldwide at Our World in Data.

Learning and benchmarking are key steps towards becoming an impact giver. If you are interested in giving with impact on Global take a look at these selections from Giving Compass.

  • This article is deemed a must-read by one or more of our expert collaborators.
    Click here for more.
    How Donors Can Push Climate Action Forward

    During the global financial crisis of ‘08-’09, those in power pushed for system protection, system maintenance and system recovery when what was urgently needed then and even more urgently needed now is system innovation, system redesign and system transformation. It is time we hold corporate and political power to account for having delayed action for so long when the science has been so clear. In our approach, though, we must empower people with possibilities, not immobilise them with depressing projections of our future. While our situation is dire, we have much to build on as we continue the struggle. Climate justice must be our guiding light in addressing the climate problem. The reality is that the people facing the first and most brutal impacts of climate change are those that have contributed least to the problem. The picture painted demographically is plain to see -which parts of the world that historically carry the most responsibility for emissions are affecting those who’ve had nothing to do with releasing these emissions. This Climate Apartheid is inescapable and we must not be afraid to lay bare on the table. History will judge us harshly if we fail to act now in the manner required – with love, urgency, solidarity and inclusion. Those in the future will ask: When big change was necessary, why was it that most of the activist and philanthropic community failed to bring about the changes we said we would? Philanthropy is poised to play a critical role in history to accelerate positive climate action through smart, strategic decisions in how we move into the future as a species if it supports people carrying fundamental answers to fundamental questions. That being said, philanthropy cannot ignore the words of Einstein, ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. It is imperative that philanthropy fully embrace intersectionality – simply put, the interconnected nature of social categorizations: climate justice, social justice, gender equality and so on. Philanthropy must not simply look at people’s marginalisation and exclusion but must also look at the power people have if we are to mobilise the energy to push for courageous systemic and structural changes. We need to harness people’s autonomy, creative participation, wealth and consumption power. Read the full article about philanthropy's role in pushing climate action forward by Kumi Naidoo at The Philanthropic Initiative.

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