Gender Inequality Index
What is the Gender Inequality Index?
The Gender Inequality Index (GII) combines several indicators into one measure. It shows the potential loss in human development caused by differences between women's and men's achievements in three areas: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. The index provides evidence to help assess gender policies and identify where efforts to achieve gender equality are needed.
Methodology
The GII measures disadvantages linked to gender in three areas: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. It ranges from 0, when women and men have equal achievements, to 1, when one gender has the worst possible results in all three areas. [Human Development Report, United Nations, 2015].
The indicators needed to calculate the GII are listed below, grouped by area, along with their data sources.
- Reproductive health
·Maternal mortality
·Adolescent birth rate
The priority given to women's health during pregnancy and childbirth clearly shows their status in society. Education and better healthcare can reduce women's risk of dying during childbirth. Giving birth at a young age also poses a high health risk for both mother and child. It can make it harder for women to reach higher levels of education, which they need to succeed in the labour market.
- Empowerment
·Percentage of seats in parliament, by gender
·Completion of secondary education or higher, by gender, for people over 25
Women have traditionally faced disadvantages in politics, at all levels of government and representation. The share of women in parliament indicates how far women can reach senior leadership positions in society. Women with more education are also more likely to succeed in the labour market. They are better able to care for their own health and their family's health, and find it easier to take initiatives, including in politics.
- Labour market
·Labour force participation rate
The labour force participation rate reflects people's willingness to take part in the labour market and how they see their chances of finding work. For women, an important factor is the ability to combine work with pregnancy, childbirth and family life. Without this option, many women may have to leave the labour force completely.
Results
Calculations show that the GII fell to 0.089 in 2025, from 0.094 in the previous year. This means a loss of 8.9% in human development due to gender inequality.
Over the years, all the indicators used to calculate the GII have improved slightly, except maternal mortality. Changes in maternal mortality have been the main reason for changes in the index.
Chart 1. Gender Inequality Index, 2018-2025
Methodological note: The Gender Inequality Index (GII) data have been revised and recalculated using the updated method of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). When calculating the GII, a minimum maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 10 deaths per 100,000 live births is used. Any MMR below 10 is treated as 10 in the index calculation. This rule applies to all years in the series so that the index values are consistent and can be compared over time. The MMR published as a separate statistic remains the actual recorded value. Because of this change in the method, GII values for previous years have been recalculated and may differ from those published before.
Women and Men in Albania 2026