Where Does Europe Stand on Women in Digital? Insights from the Index

Europe’s digital transformation can only be truly successful if women are fully included at every stage, from early education through to leadership in ICT careers. Yet persistent gender disparities remain across the digital ecosystem, undermining both fairness and Europe’s competitiveness. This is where the Women in Digital Index plays a crucial role.

Launched under the Connecting Women in Digital initiative, the Index provides a data-driven snapshot of how women progress along the digital career pipeline across the EU and selected benchmark countries. Unlike conventional metrics that focus on isolated indicators, the Index tracks participation across multiple stages, from participation in STEM and ICT education, through to employment in digital roles and senior leadership positions.

Key pillars include:

• Participation of girls in primary and secondary STEM education
• Women in higher education and ICT programme enrolment
• Representation in early-to-mid digital careers
• Presence in senior ICT and leadership roles

The Index allows comparison between countries on how well they are supporting women at each phase of their digital careers, identifying where progress has been made, where drop-off points persist, and where targeted action is most needed. This evidence is invaluable for policymakers, educators, employers and civil society alike, helping them shape evidence-based strategies that address structural barriers and unlock women’s full potential in Europe’s digital economy.

In short, the WiD Index is a crucial tool for understanding where women thrive in digital careers, and where more effort is needed to create a truly inclusive digital ecosystem in Europe.