Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2026

Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2026, published by UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, provides a clear picture of the current state of gender equality across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Drawing on more than 100 data sources, the report focuses particularly on women’s participation in leadership and decision-making and shows that, despite some progress, gender equality remains far from being achieved.

One of the most striking findings is that women currently hold 27.4% of seats in national parliaments, 35.6% of local government positions and 30.5% of managerial jobs worldwide. The report also highlights that not a single indicator of SDG 5, which focuses on gender equality, is currently on track to be achieved by 2030.

This publication can be a very useful resource for the classroom because it allows students to explore gender equality through real data rather than abstract statements. Graphs, statistics and comparisons can provide a starting point for discussions about representation, access to power, gender stereotypes, economic opportunities and the barriers that women continue to face. It can also be connected with Mathematics, Geography, Social Sciences, Economics, Citizenship Education and Media Literacy.

https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2026/09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2026