Germany still lags on women in leadership roles
New figures show that 30.3 per cent of German managers are women, compared with an EU average of 35.9 per cent.
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Women hold fewer leadership positions in Germany than the European Union average. According to new figures for 2025, the German share stands at 30.3 per cent, while women make up almost half of the workforce.
Germany’s Federal Statistical Office published figures on Monday based on Eurostat data. According to the office, around 569,100 women and 1.31 million men were working in leadership roles in Germany in 2025.
The European average was 35.9 per cent. Sweden had the highest share of female managers, at 44.4 per cent. Cyprus came last, at 25.9 per cent. The figures cover different types of leadership roles, including company management and senior positions in government.
The shortfall is not new. Over ten years, the share of women in German leadership roles rose by around one percentage point. In the European Union, the share increased by four percentage points over the same period.
By contrast, women accounted for 47.1 per cent of all those in work in Germany in 2025. That is slightly above the EU average of 46.5 per cent. The figures therefore point to a gap between participation in the labour market and progression into leadership positions.
A researcher at the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung links Germany’s shortfall to high levels of part-time work among women and persistent expectations surrounding motherhood. That is an interpretation of the figures, not a directly proven cause. The statistics show that the difference exists, but not which policies would be most effective in narrowing it.
For companies, the development means that the debate over talent, part-time work, childcare and appointment procedures is not only social but also economic. At the same time, averages say nothing about individual sectors or companies. The methodology combines different types of leadership roles.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- In 2025, 30.3 per cent of German managers were women.
- The EU average was 35.9 per cent.
- Women accounted for 47.1 per cent of those in work in Germany.
Left
Arguments The figures point to structural barriers. Childcare, equal pay, leave and quotas may be needed to make formal equality visible in power and income as well.
Values Equality, emancipation and fair opportunities.
Consequences Active policy can accelerate progression, but employers and government must show that measures also reach women from different backgrounds.
Centre
Arguments Companies should make better use of talent, but measures must reflect sectoral differences and have demonstrable effects.
Values Equal opportunities, efficiency and practicality.
Consequences Better data and transparent appointment procedures can help without imposing the same solution on every sector.
Right
Arguments Appointments should primarily be based on suitability; companies should retain room to conduct their own personnel policies.
Values Meritocracy, entrepreneurial freedom and limited government intervention.
Consequences Voluntary change can maintain support, but without pressure the existing shortfall may continue slowly.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The figures can be consistently found in two public reports referring to official German and European statistics. Explanations for the difference are clearly presented as interpretations.
- confirmed In 2025, 30.3 per cent of managers in Germany were women. — Reuters cites Germany’s Federal Statistical Office based on Eurostat. source
- confirmed The EU average was 35.9 per cent and Sweden stood at 44.4 per cent. — Figures from Reuters and DPA. source
- confirmed Women accounted for 47.1 per cent of Germany’s workforce. — Mentioned in the Reuters report. source
Editor's note
The percentages, figures and trend were reported by Reuters and DPA based on official statistics. The explanations involving part-time work and social expectations are explicitly attributed as interpretations.Sources
- Frauen in Top-Jobs: Deutschland bleibt unter EU-Schnitt — Reuters via MarketScreener
- Share of women in German leadership positions far below EU average — DPA via NAMPA
More on this in Dutch media
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