Global Patterns of Gender Equality: A Multivariate Analysis of SDG Indicators

Abstract

Focusing on the global patterns of gender equality, this study conducts a multivariate analysis of six selected indicators included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), utilizing data from 160 countries reported in the Sustainable Development Report 2023. Employing the DUAL-STATIS multivariate analysis technique, the study examines the associations between these indicators and countries, identifying the differences or similarities observed. The findings reveal a structural division: while high-income nations advance in political and labor parity, lower-income regions face persistent deficits in maternal health and adolescent fertility. Conclusively, this structural behavior demonstrates that progress in gender targets is highly interdependent and uneven across regions, making it impossible to capture through isolated metrics. Methodologically, it is recommended to apply multivariate techniques to evaluate and understand global indicators. Practically, public gender policies and monitoring frameworks must transition from aggregate targets to integrated, regionalized strategies that simultaneously address reproductive health limitations and institutional representation barriers to guarantee gender equality and women's empowerment.