Since 1977, the world has commemorated International Women's Day every March 8. A date that highlights the struggle of women for their rights and recognizes the progress made in this area throughout history. In this context, five recent achievements in Chile stand out, reflecting the commitment to build a more equitable and diverse society.

1.- Sustained reduction in the gender gap

Chile advanced six places in the Global Gender Gap Index 2024, becoming the country in Latin America and the Caribbean that has made the biggest leap in this indicator since 2006, reducing its overall gap by 8.3 percentage points. This reflects the impact of public policies, sectoral programs and a cultural change towards greater equity.

2.- Historical participation in Mining

According to the report "Monitoring of Gender Indicators" by the CCM-Eleva alliance, the participation of women in mining companies reached 21.8% up to June 2024, equivalent to a total of 11,061 women working in the sector. On the other hand, the National Mining Society (SONAMI) released the variation of female participation in large and medium mining, which went from 9% to 12% between 2015 and 2024.

3.- Export players

According to data from the Undersecretariat of International Economic Relations, 38.5% of the value exported by Chile in 2023 came from companies led by women, which translates into shipments of around US$ 16,486 million. Among the products most exported by these companies are iron, molybdenum, fresh cherries, salmon fillets, wood, hazelnuts, fresh grapes and wines.

4.- More women innovators

Female leadership in innovation also marked a milestone in 2024. According to MIC Business Consulting, the participation of women in innovation-related management positions reached 32.5%, the highest percentage ever recorded. This progress reflects the fact that gender diversity is not only an ethical objective, but also a key factor in boosting creativity, technological development and competitiveness.

5.- Progress in the public sector

The growth of women' s leadership and participation has not only occurred in the economy. The public sector has also witnessed the inclusion of women in important positions. An example of this is the steady increase of women in Chile's diplomatic service, which went from 5.0% in 1990 to 30.4% in 2024.

In terms of sustainability, one of the fundamental pillars of Chile's Green Hydrogen Action Plan 2023-2030 is gender equality, and its guidelines state that the energy sector, in accordance with international and national standards, has the responsibility to advance in the challenge of achieving gender equality in the development of traditional and new industries.

Learn more about the progress of gender equality in Chile on the Chile País de Mujeres website .