Locations
Gender Equality
UNDP Cambodia
Gender defines the power, privileges, and possibilities some people have or do not have in society. It affects progress towards equality in rights, opportunities, and freedom from discrimination.
Despite significant strides in human development, Cambodia continues to face substantial challenges in achieving gender equality. According to UNDP's 2025 Gender Inequality Index (GII), which measures gender disparities across reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market using 2023 data, Cambodia has a GII value of 0.506, ranking it 136th out of 193 countries. Key areas contributing to this situation include significant gaps in empowerment, reflected in the low share of seats held by women in the national parliament (13.6% in 2024, IPU). Reproductive health indicators such as the maternal mortality ratio (218 deaths per 100,000 live births) and the adolescent birth rate (46.9 births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) also highlight persistent challenges.
The situation presents a mixed picture, with notable economic engagement alongside persistent structural gaps. Cambodia boasts the highest female labor force participation rate in the region at 74% (compared to 86.5% for males, ILO 2024), indicating women's significant economic activity. This contrasts sharply with disparities reflected in overall adult educational attainment, where only 16.4% of women aged 25+ have received at least some secondary education compared to 29.0% of men (UNDP GIII). While current completion rates for lower secondary education show improvement, with 67.7% of girls finishing compared to 55.7% of boys (UNESCO 2024 data), the legacy of historical gaps persists among the adult population. Furthermore, women's very low representation in political decision-making underscores the need for continued, targeted efforts to address structural barriers and promote equal opportunities across all spheres of life in Cambodia.
