Gender Inequality in Banten Increased, but is Now Gradually Decreasing

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reports that Banten's Gender Inequality Index (GII) score is higher than the national average.

BPS explains that a higher GII score indicates a greater disparity between men and women, signifying a worsening level of equality.

According to BPS, in 2024, Indonesia's GII score was 0.421 on a scale of 0-1. For seven consecutive years, Banten's GII score has exceeded this.

Banten even experienced a score increase twice, reaching 0.503 in 2019 and 0.478 in 2022.

Outside of these two years, the GII score tended to decrease. The latest data from 2024 shows a further decline to 0.453.

BPS uses three dimensions in measuring the GII. First, empowerment, consisting of the percentage of male and female legislative members and the percentage of male and female populations with at least a high school education.

In Banten Province in 2024, the percentage of male legislative members was 86%, while female representation was only 14%. Meanwhile, 47.20% of men and 38.34% of women had at least a high school education.

Second, reproductive health, comprising the proportion of women aged 15-49 who gave birth to their last child in the past two years without utilizing health facilities (MTF), and the proportion of women aged 15-49 who were under 20 years old when they gave birth to their first child (MHPK20).

According to BPS records, Banten's MHPK20 score in 2024 was 0.241, and MTF was 0.086.

Third, the labor market dimension, with the indicator of Male and Female Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR). Banten's male LFPR in 2024 was 82.95%, while the female LFPR was 48.90%.

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