Malta’s gender equality ranking stands below the EU average, according to data issued recently
Malta was ranked 16th out of 28 member states, with a score of 46.8 from a maximum of 100, in an index compiled by the European Institute for Gender Equality.
The Gender Equality Index measures gender gaps in work, money, knowledge, time, power and health across the EU.
Of the 28 member states, Sweden had the highest score (74.2) followed by Finland (72.7) and Denmark (70.9). Romania scored the lowest, 33.7, followed by Slovakia (36.5) and Portugal (37.9).
In the six categories analysed by the institute, Malta only ranked above the EU average in two categories, money and health.
On health, Malta achieved the top ranking with a score of 95.6. The EU average score for this factor stood at 90.
When compiling the data to achieve this score, the institute analysed health status, health-related behaviours, health and safety at work, fertility and reproductive health, health care and mortality.
On health, Malta achieved the top ranking with a score of 95.6
Malta was awarded a ranking of 71.4 on the gender gap in the money domain, which looks at financial resources and economic situation. The biggest gender gap in Malta exists in terms of power, according to the data gathered.
Here, a score of 28.3 was awarded, while the EU average stood at 39.7.
This score is obtained by analysing positions of power held by men and women in politics, the judiciary, the education sector, public administration, the media, the business and finance sector and social partners and NGOs.
The institute also analysed the gender gap in employment by looking at the employed and unemployed, earnings, labour market segregation, working time, work-life balance, working environment and the start and end of working life. Malta was given an overall ranking of 60.7.
On knowledge, which addressed educational attainment, segregation and lifelong learning, a score of 36.3 was awarded to Malta while a score of 36.7 was awarded for the time factor.
Data was also collected on freedom from violence, with the institute using the newly-available data from the EU-wide survey on violence against women, conducted by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. The survey is based on a sample size of 42,000 women from across the EU and asks women about their experiences of violence.
Malta had a self-reported violence level lower than the EU overall, alongside Ireland, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Austria, Poland, Portugal and Slovenia. The institute’s database was compiled through the use of data gathered by the EU’s statistics arm Eurostat, DG Justice and Consumers, Eurofound and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA).
| Gender Equality Index | Work | Money | Knowledge | Time | Power | Health | |
| Austria | 50.2 | 66.5 | 77.6 | 44.5 | 38.6 | 27.1 | 92.7 |
| Bulgaria | 38.5 | 58.7 | 40.3 | 31.8 | 17 | 36.8 | 86 |
| Cyprus | 44.9 | 74 | 74.6 | 51.5 | 24.4 | 16.9 | 92.4 |
| Czech Republic | 43.8 | 54.2 | 60.4 | 42 | 23.5 | 31.8 | 89.5 |
| Denmark | 70.9 | 76.8* | 76.4 | 73.2* | 64.5 | 55.7 | 91.4 |
| Estonia | 49.8 | 62 | 48.4 | 55.4 | 49.8 | 27.9 | 82 |
| Finland | 72.7 | 72.6 | 79.9 | 67.3 | 61.3 | 75.7* | 89 |
| France | 55.7 | 61.3 | 76.9 | 50.7 | 34.5 | 48.8 | 90.6 |
| Germany | 55.3 | 62.2 | 78.4 | 46.7 | 39.7 | 45.1 | 90 |
| Greece | 38.3 | 56.9 | 56.4 | 37.6 | 17.9 | 21.9 | 90.8 |
| Ireland | 56.5 | 65.8 | 79 | 54.3 | 52 | 31.4 | 95.2 |
| Italy | 41.1 | 53.8 | 68 | 32.5 | 32.4 | 21.8 | 89.5 |
| Luxemburg | 55.2 | 63.6 | 92.3* | 64.6 | 47.1 | 22.6 | 94.6 |
| Malta | 46.8 | 60.7 | 71.4 | 36.3 | 36.7 | 28.3 | 95.6* |
| Netherland | 68.5 | 69 | 83.6 | 64.6 | 71.2* | 51.3 | 93.6 |
| Portugal | 37.9 | 59.1 | 56 | 37.8 | 22.4 | 17.6 | 83.3 |
| Slovakia | 36.5 | 52.8 | 56.7 | 34 | 17.7 | 21.1 | 86.7 |
| Spain | 53.6 | 59.6 | 59.7 | 53.4 | 33.5 | 47.8 | 92.2 |
| Sweden | 74.2* | 81 | 80.6 | 67.6 | 61.9 | 71.7 | 93.3 |
| UK | 58 | 69.5 | 74.6 | 67.5 | 41.8 | 33.2 | 94.4 |
| EU28 averages | 52.9 | 56.9 | 67.8 | 49.1 | 37.6 | 39.7 | 90 |
Source: Eurostat
* Top scores for each category appear in bold