Global Gender Pay Gap Has Narrowed Slightly
New estimates show the global pay gap decreased by two percentage points over the past decade.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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The International Labour Organization released estimates showing the global gender pay gap has narrowed by two percentage points since 2018. Women currently earn on average 18 percent less than men globally.
Why it matters
The persistent pay gap reflects deep-seated structural inequalities, including the unequal distribution of care responsibilities and occupational segregation. These factors continue to hinder access to employment and career progression for women worldwide.
The global gender pay gap has closed at an average rate of 0.2 percentage points per year. While high-income nations achieved a 2.5 percentage point reduction, upper-middle-income countries saw only a 1 percentage point decrease.
The players
International Labour Organization
This United Nations agency is responsible for setting international labor standards and promoting social justice and decent work.
Equal Pay International Coalition
This group is a multi-stakeholder partnership that works to achieve equal pay for women and men everywhere.
The details
Progress in reducing the wage disparity is driven by a combination of pay transparency initiatives, wage policies, and the enforcement of equality legislation. Despite these efforts, the current rate of change suggests that closing the gap entirely remains a distant goal.
Timeline
The Equal Remuneration Convention was adopted in 1951.
The Equal Pay International Coalition launched in 2017.
The ILO released previous gender pay gap estimates in 2018.
The UN General Assembly recognized International Equal Pay Day in 2019.
The ILO released new estimates on September 18, 2026.
Culture Shift
This progress follows the principles established by the Equal Remuneration Convention of 1951, which remains the foundational legal standard for gender-based wage equality. The data highlights a slow but persistent movement toward formalizing these protections across diverse international labor markets.
The narrowing pay gap reflects shifts in local wage policies and collective bargaining efforts that may eventually influence individual salary negotiations. Readers may experience improved pay transparency as more countries adopt regulations mandated by evolving international labor standards.
The takeaway
Closing the gender pay gap requires ongoing commitment to specific, context-driven labor market reforms. Individuals can support this shift by staying informed about local wage transparency laws and participating in efforts to promote equitable workplace practices.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing efforts to bridge the gender wage gap in the Women’s Issues section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Sun Nigeria.
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