Marets Oksana, Ph.D (Economics), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of Statistics, Ivan Franko National University of L’viv, Lviv, Ukraine

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4044-7443
e-mail: oksana.marets@lnu.edu.ua

Gender Statistics in Ukraine: Theory and Analysis

Abstract. Introduction. This article examines the issues of gender equality and gender statistics, particularly in relation to the development of entrepreneurship in Ukraine. Gender equality gained international recognition after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948, and later through other key initiatives, including the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1979 and the establishment of the UN structure “UN Women” in 2010.

Purpose. The study aims to identify trends in the development of women’s entrepreneurship, opportunities for the promotion and development of women’s enterprises, and the effectiveness of government gender policies.

Results. In Ukraine, legislation encourages the development of gender statistics, and gender-disaggregated data are used to evaluate the effectiveness of government gender policies. However, gender statistics is a broader concept than simply disaggregating data by sex; it includes social aspects that allow for the analysis of gender roles and inequalities. The role of women in the economy of Ukraine is analyzed. In 2024, women managed only 29.2% of registered legal entities, while men managed 70.8%. Women are more likely to run small businesses, especially private, family or communal enterprises; however, the share of female managers decreases as the size of the business increases. Despite gender stereotypes and social constraints, Ukrainian women are increasingly participating in entrepreneurship, especially as sole proprietors. Since 2021, the number of women engaged in self-employment has increased, along with their level of education. There is a growing proportion of younger female entrepreneurs, as well as women with two or more higher education degrees. The success of women in business encourages the overcoming of gender bias, and access to programs and financial resources will promote the development of entrepreneurship in Ukraine, even during times of war.

Conclusions. The effectiveness of state policies and the implementation of programs to support women and stimulate business should reflect real statistical data. The updating of gender data and statistics in general will open opportunities for assessing the real situation not only in gender policy, but also in all sectors of the Ukrainian economy.

Keywords: gender equality; gender statistics; entrepreneurship; female leaders; discrimination; gender roles; sex; gender.

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