New equality report reveals sharp fertility decline, wage disparities, gender-segregated jobs, rising

Andorra's fertility rate fell 15.9% over five years, dropping from 28.84 in 2020 to 24.63 in 2024, as outlined in the Department of Statistics' 2024 Sistema d’Indicadors d’Igualtat report, developed in collaboration with the Equality Observatory—comprising the State Secretariat for Equality, Andorran Women's Institute, and Andorra Research + Innovation.

The analysis reveals ongoing gender imbalances in economics, employment, education, sports, security forces, and demographics. Women received an average gross monthly salary of €2,289.93, equivalent to 80% of men's €2,836.88, creating an annual gap of €6,701. Male-headed households averaged €40,534 in net income, while female-headed ones averaged €33,895—a 16.4% disparity. Financial hardship affected 51.6% of women and 48.4% of men, with 17.7% of women and 15.2% of men at risk of poverty or social exclusion, per the living conditions survey.

Employment patterns showed little change from 2020 to 2024 in gender-segregated sectors. Construction, with an annual average of 3,916 salaried workers (90% men), added 912 positions overall—764 men and 148 or 149 women. Domestic staff roles, averaging 1,041 workers yearly (under 10% men), declined by 21 per year, with 22 women exiting and one man entering. Health, veterinary, and social services averaged 2,448 workers annually (about 80% women), with men's share rising slightly to 22.5% in 2024; that year brought 116 hires—71 women (61.7%) and 45 men (38.3%).

Men overwhelmingly filled decision-making roles in security: police averaged 3.63 men per woman (250 men, 69 women); prison staff 4.86 men per woman (57 men, 12 women); firefighters 10.78 men per woman (125 men, 12 women).

Demographic shifts included population growth for both genders, though 2024 saw male immigrants drop 19.4% and females 30.2%. Non-Andorran residents increased 12.5% among men and 8.3% among women. The 65+ group rose 4.7% for men and 4.4% for women. Fertility specifics noted a 37.5% decline for mothers aged 15-19 and a 5.6% increase for those 20-24.

Education trends showed bachelor's enrolments down 25.4% for men and 33.7% for women year-on-year; master's up 48.4% for men and 28.6% for women; vocational training up 8.1% for men and 5.1% for women.

In sports, licences averaged 63.8% male and 36.2% female from 2020-2024, with women at 22.3% of coaching licences, 30.7% of board seats, and 20.9% of referees.

Gender violence rose in 2024: men's arrests for related offences increased 28.6% from 2023. The Gender Violence Victims Service managed 327 cases, up from 301 in 2023 and reversing the 2020-2023 decline. All victims reported psychological abuse; physical and social violence each impacted roughly half. Cases concentrated among women aged 28-51 (70.6%), then 18-27 (14.7%) and 52-63 (9.8%). By status, 40% were single, 27.5% married, 22% separated, 6.4% divorced, and 0.9% widowed (2.8% unknown). Nearly all (94.5%) had no recognized disability; 20.2% returned to their partner (70.3% did not). Access routes: 50.2% self-referred, 18.3% via Social Affairs, 13.1% police, 12.2% Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Hospital, and 6.1% others. Some 45.3% had prior complaints; 11.6% got civil/penal advice, 0.6% labour/administrative.

Same-sex marriages reached 14 in 2024—eight male couples and six female—up from 10 the prior year (three male, seven female).