1.1. Contact organisation
European Commission (including Eurostat)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Eurostat - Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
European Commission
Eurostat – Statistical Office of the European Union
L-2920 Luxembourg
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
26 May 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
16 March 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
16 March 2026
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 5 on gender equality, which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under 'Supporting people, strenghtening our societes and our social model'.
SDG 5 aims at achieving gender equality by, among other things, ending all forms of discrimination, violence, and any harmful practices against women and girls in the public and private spheres. In order to promote women’s social and economic empowerment, it calls for recognition and value of unpaid care and domestic work, equal rights and access to economic and natural resources, technology, basic and financial services and property.
Indicator can be considered as similar to global SDG indicator 8.5.1 "Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities". It is included as a secondary indicator in the Social Scoreboard for the European Pillar of Social Rights.
The EU Gender Equality Strategy commits to achieving a Union of Equality and presents policy objectives and actions to make significant progress by 2025 towards a gender-equal Europe, where women and men, girls and boys, are free to pursue their chosen path in life and have equal opportunities to thrive. The key objectives are ending gender-based violence; challenging gender stereotypes; closing gender gaps in the labour market; achieving equal participation across different sectors of the economy; addressing the gender pay and pension gaps; closing the gender care gap and achieving gender balance in decision-making and in politics.
Equal pay for equal work is one of the European Union’s founding principles, embedded in the Treaties since 1957. Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that each Member State shall ensure that the principle is applied. Directive 2006/54/EC enshrines the principle of equal pay. Closing the gender pay gap is also one of the objectives of the Commission's Strategic engagement for gender equality as well as the European Pillar of Social Rights.
4.1. Data description
The indicator measures the difference between average gross hourly earnings of male paid employees and of female paid employees as a percentage of average gross hourly earnings of male paid employees. The indicator has been defined as unadjusted, because it gives an overall picture of gender inequalities in terms of pay and measures a concept which is broader than the concept of equal pay for equal work. All employees working in firms with ten or more employees, without restrictions for age and hours worked, are included. The gender pay gap is based on the methodology of the structure of earnings survey (SES), which is carried out every four years.
4.2. Unit of measure
% of average gross hourly earnings of men.
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The indicator is produced according to the high-level quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to related metadata).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
ESS (SES)
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: Structure of Earnings Survey (SES)
Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, based on data reported by the countries.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated annually. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+2 years5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within two years after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
< 75% EU MS or no EU aggregate6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States except Greece, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented times series start in 2002; EU aggregates are reported sicne 2010.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is more than 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table sdg_05_20
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
