Gender equality barometer 2025

Having 50 per cent of women in government might give the impression that gender equality has been reached. But it is also about which positions the women have. 

We have distributed 200 points, 40 to each Nordic country. 100 points to women means full equality. 

We have taken 13 ministerial posts into account. They each give one point except the position of prime minister (5), finance minister (3) and foreign minister (2).

We have also included the leaders of the largest trade unions and employers’ organisations:

Leaders of confederations of trade unions (4), leaders of service industries unions (2), leaders of trade unions for academics (2), leaders of employers' organisations (2) and managing directors at employers' organisations (2).

And finally six important symbolic positions:

Heads of state, supreme court presidents, heads of central banks, archbishops, police commissioners and commander-in-chief. 

Heads of state get three points, while the others get one each. We have not included leaders of major companies because they are not considered to be employed as a result of a democratic process. 

We have made certain adjustments for Iceland. Since the country has no defence forces, we have for instance included the head of the coast guard.

The gender equality barometer measures who is in power at 8 am on 8 March each year.