Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Gender inequality in Mexico - statistics & facts
Mexico is a place full of diversity, contrasts, and challenges, and gender equality is one of the most fundamental objectives Mexican society has failed to achieve. Worldwide, the country ranks 33rd in terms of its gender gap, coming behind other Latin American and Caribbean nations such as Nicaragua, Jamaica, Chile, Barbados, and Costa Rica. In spite of some progress in areas such as women's economic participation, Mexico still ranks 122nd in the world in this metric. Demographic data show that there are around 44 million females between 15 and 65 years of age in Mexico, with the labor force participation rate for women reaching 46 percent during the second quarter of 2023, in contrast with 76.3 percent for their male counterparts. This represents a huge issue for gender parity in the country, as over half of working age women are not formally employed, nor seeking to become so. Despite investments, and different programs addressing gender discrimination, Mexico still has a long path ahead to mitigate sexist attitudes, stereotyping, and patriarchal social norms.
Gender pay gap
Pay disparity in Mexico is relatively low, at around –13.15 percent. This means that for every 100 Mexican pesos a man receives, a woman earns approximately 86.85 pesos. The gender pay gap in Mexico is in fact smaller than in other OECD countries such as the United States, Canada, Finland, or the United Kingdom. This disparity is greater in industries where women make up the majority of the workforce, while it is in fact smaller in industries where women are in the minority. For example, male-dominated industries such as agriculture, construction, and mining are among the only six economic activities with positive pay disparity for female workers. In other sectors such as retail commerce, media, or education, men earn significantly more than their female counterparts. The gap also widens with lower educational attainment - women with only pre-primary education earn around 45 percent less than men, while those with higher education earn six percent less.Employment disparities
Gender disparity is not solely about wages. The employment rate of women and mothers in particular adds to the complicated picture. For women younger than 20 years old, the employment rate drops below 30 percent if they have children between one and five years old. For men in the same position the employment rate is over 94 percent. In fact, employment for males is significantly higher across all age groups and parental status. Added to the gaps in economic participation and pay disparity, women are less likely to try and participate in the labor market, and when they do there is a lower probability they will get the job. The alarming data does not stop there: the share of women in the shadow economy is also higher, meaning that many women work with no contract, no social security, no health insurance, no legal protection, and lower wages. A compounding factor which harms women's economic prospects is that women are more likely to be engaged in non-remunerated work within the household, either by doing household work or by producing for family consumption.
