RDSA2002
Females on average earn 15.9 % less than males
Provisional data of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in 2019 the average gross hourly earnings of females were 15.9 % smaller than those of males, moreover the gap has risen by 1.8 percentage points, compared to 2018.
In 2019, the largest unadjusted gender pay gap was observed in financial and insurance activities where males per hour earned on average 26 % more than females.
* All activities, except for agriculture, forestry, fishing and public administration, based on Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev. 2).
In 2019, earnings of females working full-time were 19.1 % lower than those of males, while gender pay gap between males and females working part-time was smaller – 12.4 %.
Average gender pay gap in public sector was slightly higher than in private sector – 14.2 % and 13.5 %, respectively.
In 2019, the smallest unadjusted gender pay gap was recorded in the age group 55+ (10 %), while the largest in age groups 35–44 and 25–34 (18.2 % and 17.7 %, respectively).
Unadjusted gender pay gap by age group
(as per cent)
Age group, years | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
< 25 | 13.0 | 13.2 | 13.9 | 13.5 | 13.8 |
25–34 | 15.8 | 16.1 | 17.1 | 16.5 | 17.7 |
35–44 | 22.8 | 21.0 | 19.2 | 16.9 | 18.2 |
45–54 | 15.9 | 14.9 | 14.6 | 12.8 | 13.1 |
55–64 | 14.8 | 13.5 | 12.3 | 9.9 | 10.1 |
≥ 65 | 16.8 | 17.1 | 15.1 | 11.2 | 10.0 |
Females in the EU on average earn 15.7 % less than males
In 2018, the EU average unadjusted gender pay gap constituted 15.7 %. Latvian indicator was slightly lower than the EU average –14.1 %. The largest gap was recorded in Estonia where females earned 22.7 % less than males.
* Ireland and Italy – data on 2017, no data on Greece.
Methodological explanations
Unadjusted gender pay gap is one of the EU sustainable development indicators calculated based on the Eurostat methodology and used for international comparisons. The indicator is used to monitor progress towards the gender equality.
CSB is also publishing gender pay gap in monthly earnings that is an indicator used for annual comparisons of earnings received by both genders in Latvia. This indicator differs from the unadjusted gender pay gap in terms of both calculation methodology and target population.
Gender pay gap in monthly earnings often is greater than unadjusted gender pay gap, as females due to various reasons, e.g., need to care for an ill child or pregnancy/ maternity leave, usually work less days, and that, in turn, affects earnings.
Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366989, +371 27880666
More information on data:
Lija Luste
Wage Statistics Section
E-mail: Lija.Luste@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366917
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