In 2023 women earned 16.5 % less than men

Estimate of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) * shows that in 2023 the average hourly gross earnings of women were 16.5 % lower than those of men. Compared to the year before, the unadjusted gender pay gap has reduced by 0.6 percentage points.

The gap in earnings of males and females is affected by various social and economic factors – the number of men and women in a specific economic activity, their occupation and work duties, educational attainment, age, service increment, number of hours worked, as well as labour supply and demand trends and structural changes in the labour market. The indicator is calculated without excluding the effect of these factors, which might explain the reasons for the gap.

In 2023 the largest unadjusted gender pay gap was observed in information and communication – 33.5 %, financial and insurance activities – 30.6 %, trade – 27.8 % and arts, entertainment and recreation (denoting that women on average earn 27.6 % less per hour than men).

Unadjusted gender pay gap exceeding 20 % was registered in the following economic activities (where it varied between 20.1 % and 25.0 %): professional, scientific and technical activities; mining and quarrying; manufacturing; as well as administrative and support service activities.

Whereas in construction, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, as well as public administration and defence women earned more than men. 

* 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 terms of sectoral breakdown, gender pay gap in private sector was 0.6 percentage points larger than in public (17.6 % and 17.0 %, respectively). Women working full time earned 19.5 % less than men, while among those working part time the gender gap was twice as small – 9.3 %.

As regards age, the smallest gender gap in hourly earnings was recorded in the age group under 25 (9.5 %) and among elderly, namely, people aged 65 and over (10.7 %), while the largest – in the age group 35–44 (23.2 %). 

Unadjusted gender pay gap by age group

(per cent)

Women in the EU on average earned 12.7 % less than men

In 2022, the EU average unadjusted gender pay gap constituted 12.7 %. The largest gap was recorded in Estonia (21.3 %).

*Greece – 2018 data.

Reference metadata about statistics for hourly and monthly gender pay gap are available in official statistics portal metadata sections Gender pay gap, hourly earnings and Gender pay gap, monthly gross

Methodological explanations

*According to the methodology of the European Union, the indicator is calculated from the Structure of Earnings Survey, which takes place every four years, the last one in 2022, the results will be on August 19. The time series from 2019 to 2023 will be revised in September. For years when the survey is not carried out, the preliminary indicator is calculated using data for the 1st quarter from the statistical report on labour.

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 a monthly gender pay gap 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.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366989, +371 27880666

More information on data:
Lija Luste
Wage Statistics Section
E-mail: Lija.Luste@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366917