2024 SDG Gender Index: A Gender Equal Future in Crisis?

Krista Jones Baptista; Alison Holder; Fatou Ndiaye Turpin; Danessa Luna; Sivanthi Thanenthiran; Nilangi Sardeshpande; Julisa Tambunan

The 2024 SDG Gender Index delivers a stark message: no country is on track to achieve gender equality by the 2030 deadline. This global report, examining data from 139 countries, reveals that gender equality is not only stagnating but also backsliding in nearly 40% of countries between 2019 and 2022. The Index uses 56 indicators aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), covering issues like income inequality, gender-based violence, climate vulnerability, and access to education and healthcare. With the current pace of progress, global gender equality may not be achieved until the next century, long beyond the lifespan of women and girls alive today. The report highlights key findings, such as worsening financial conditions for women, declining personal autonomy, and the adverse effects of austerity measures. It also emphasizes the interconnected nature of crises such as climate change, conflict, and economic instability, which disproportionately impact women and girls. The report concludes with a call to action for governments, urging them to implement more progressive policies that prioritize gender equality across sectors, increase funding for social infrastructure, and close gender data gaps to ensure informed policy decisions.