Taiwan made notable progress in closing its gender income gap in 2023, according to recent data from the Ministry of Finance. The gender income gap shrank to its lowest point in three years, highlighting an encouraging move toward income equality. Men earned 1.57 times more than women on average, improving from a ratio of 1.6 in 2022.
In numbers, men’s average annual income reached NT$746,708 (around US$25,100), while women earned NT$475,454. This improvement signals ongoing efforts to balance earnings between genders. Despite these gains, the gender income gap still varies across income sources.
Business income showed the largest disparity, with men earning almost twice as much as women. Men took home NT$219,194 compared to women’s NT$117,716 in this category. Meanwhile, salary income displayed a smaller gap. Men earned NT$822,709 on average, while women earned NT$582,463, producing a ratio of 1.41.
When looking at dividend income, the gap widened again to 1.68 times. Interestingly, more women received dividends (3.9 million) compared to men (3.36 million). However, men earned more overall, mainly due to their dominance in top corporate positions.
Retirement income broke this pattern, with women out-earning men. Women received an average of NT$594,452, surpassing men’s NT$537,333. This shift in retirement earnings is a positive sign amid ongoing gender income gap challenges.
Additionally, Taiwan saw a record number of women in leadership roles within major companies. In 2024, 15.4% of firms with over NT$1 billion in paid-in capital had female leaders. This rise in corporate leadership reflects the country’s efforts to promote gender equality.
Despite these advances, men still dominate government-backed loans. For youth home loans, men received 54% while women got 46%. The gap widens further in youth entrepreneurship loans, where men accounted for nearly 70% of borrowers.
Overall, Taiwan’s narrowing gender income gap reveals important progress, yet challenges remain across different income areas. Continued focus on equality could further reduce disparities in the coming years. The gender income gap remains a key measure of Taiwan’s economic inclusiveness and social progress.
