International Women’s Day: Using open data to advance gender equality

International Women’s Day takes place every year on 8 March and has a long history rooted in social movements for women’s rights. Today, the day brings global attention to the achievements of women while also shining a light on the inequalities that still exist. From equal pay and access to leadership roles to education, personal safety, and equal opportunities, International Women’s Day encourages governments, organisations, and citizens to reflect on where progress is being made, and where more action is still needed.  

Across Europe, the day is marked with events, campaigns, and public discussions that invite reflection, debate, and collective action at all levels of society. Coordinated through the International Women’s Day platform, the initiative connects local activities to a shared global movement. More information about the day and its annual themes can be found on the International Women’s Day website. Taken together, this day provides an important moment to reflect on progress and persistent gaps in areas such as employment, leadership, education, and safety. Reliable data plays a central role in this discussion. European institutions and agencies collect and publish gender-related statistics that help track trends over time and compare outcomes across countries. For example, the European Data Portal offers a wide range of datasets on topics such as the gender pay gap, employment rates by sex and age, women in decision‑making positions, and work–life balance. 

This International Women’s Day, take a moment to explore the data behind the discussions. Visit the European Data Portal to discover gender-related datasets, use them to inform your work or research, and share data-driven insights within your network.  

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