Social Sustainability

Sex-Disaggregated Data

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Definition

Sex-disaggregated data is data collected, analysed and reported separately for women and men (and where relevant further broken down by age, location and other characteristics). It is the minimum standard for gender analysis: without it, differences in access to resources, services, work and risk remain statistically invisible. The SDG framework requires systematic disaggregation across indicators, and UN Women tracks data gaps across the goals.

References

UN WomenGender data and statistics

Supports definition and framing.

Overview

How it is used

The requirement structures SDG monitoring, gender budgeting, programme design and evaluation, and corporate reporting on workforce composition and pay gaps.

Why it matters

What is not counted by sex cannot be corrected by policy; sex-disaggregated data is the diagnostic instrument of gender equality.

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Meaning status
Established
Last verification recorded
22 Aug 2026
Last updated
22 Aug 2026
What the classifications mean

Meaning status: Established

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