Stagnation in Gender Pay Gap Reduction

Germany witnessed no change in the gender pay gap between 2020 and 2023, consistently reporting an 18% difference in earnings between men and women. This period marks a halt in progress compared to previous years, where a gradual decrease was observed.

Decade-Long Slow Decline

Over the last decade, from 2013 to 2023, the gender pay gap in Germany decreased by only 4 percentage points, from 22% to 18%. This reflects a slow pace of change towards wage equality.

Initial Years of Higher Pay Gap Reduction

The years 2002 through 2005 and 2007 through 2009 were notable for a higher gender pay gap, oscillating between 22% and 23%. These periods highlight times of lesser progress in addressing wage disparities.

A Decade of Consistency before Stagnation

Between 2013 and 2022, the gender pay gap showed signs of steady, albeit slow, improvement, transitioning from a 22% difference to 18%. This consistent decrease before stagnation underlines the challenges in sustaining momentum towards closing the gap.

Largest Recorded Decrease

The most significant reduction in the gender pay gap occurred between 2015 and 2018, where it dropped from 22% to 20%. This 2 percentage point decrease represents the largest improvement within the dataset, indicating periods of more effective equality measures.

Initial and Ending Points of Analysis

The dataset spans from 2002 to 2023, showing an overall reduction in the gender pay gap from 23% to 18%. Over two decades, this 5 percentage point decrease highlights the long-term effort needed to combat wage inequality.