WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE OF GENDER EQUALITY IN LATVIA?
- Mar 4
- 3 min read
The Novatore Gender Equality Barometer survey was conducted in February 2026 by the research agency Norstat, interviewing 861 Latvian residents aged 18-65. The key findings are presented below.
Survey: Gender stereotypes still strong in family, home life
Despite widespread optimism, gender equality in Latvia remains deeply divided by perception and experience.
68% believe equality exists, but progress has stalled.
83% of men aged 60+ see equality, compared to only 51% of women in the same group.
70% of men believe household tasks are shared equally, only 37% of women agree.
62% of men see equality in child-rearing, compared to 31% of women.
Nearly half of women (48%) have experienced gender-based inequality in the past two years, twice as many as men (24%).
Gender equality in Latvia: Stable perception, stagnating progress
Latvian people’s perception of gender equality in society remains stable, yet the progress appears to have stalled. According to the Novatore Gender Equality Barometer conducted by the research agency Norstat, 68% of respondents believe that gender equality generally exists in Latvia. However, this figure has not changed significantly over the past two years.
The survey results reveal that while society tends to view equality relatively positively at a general level, strong gender stereotypes persist, particularly when it comes to roles within the family and home.
Of all respondents, 12% believe that gender equality definitely exists in Latvia, while 56% say it exists to a certain extent. At the same time, 21% think it does not exist, 5% believe it definitely does not exist, and 6% have no opinion on the matter.
Big difference in women's and men's assessment of gender equality
There is still a large difference in the perception of the existence of equality between women and men. Men are generally more optimistic about the existence of equality, especially those aged over 60. Women, in contrast, are more critical, particularly young women aged 18 to 29 and women in the 40 to 49 age group. The gap is most pronounced among respondents aged 60 and over: 83% of men in this group believe equality exists, compared to only 51% of women. Overall, this difference shows no clear tendency to decrease.
“The feeling that “all is well” dominates in society, but the positive development dynamics has stopped. While women see the glass as half empty, men see it as half full. Dialogue is needed – at home in the family, at work with colleagues and management, as well as a targeted state policy to improve the situation. The data of the World Economic Forum shows that if gender equality is not actively promoted, it will take 123 years to achieve it in the world, and 76 years in Europe. It is also a geopolitical choice of values, for example, choosing to live like the wealthy Nordic countries, which are “champions” of gender equality,” says Dagnija Lejiņa, co-founder of Novatore.
When evaluating specific areas of life, respondents are relatively optimistic about equality in the choice of profession and in politics, where 61% and 60% respectively believe equality exists. However, perceptions become more critical in the private sphere. Only 53% believe equality exists in family life, and just 46% believe it exists in child-rearing.
The most striking differences between women and men emerge in relation to daily life at home. While 70% of men believe that there is equality in the division of daily household tasks, only 37% of women share this view. A similar gap is visible in child-rearing: 62% of men believe equality exists, compared to 31% of women. Since 2022, this perception gap has widened.
Half of women have experienced gender inequality
48% of women and 24% of men have experienced unequal treatment on the grounds of gender in the last two years. 15% of respondents have experienced this in their family life, 14% in their pay, and the same percentage in public places or in the public space.
“Women are more likely to say that they encounter discrimination at home and family environment, as well as in the workplace, including in the matters of remuneration. The data shows that traditional views on gender roles still exist in family life, which may be related to experiences of unequal treatment. Women also note more cases of unequal treatment on the basis of gender experienced by colleagues or cooperation partners, clients and customers. This indicates the need for organizations to continue to strengthen the observance of the principle of equality in the work environment. At the same time, the data shows that discriminatory situations are relatively rarely experienced during training or professional development, as well as when receiving services in medical institutions, state and local government institutions, banks and financial institutions,” explains Linda Ezera, head of the research agency Norstat.
Below is the Novatore Gender Equality Barometer presentation (in Latvian)
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