16th January 2023
Lensa analysed all OECD countries based on median earnings for men and women, revealing the countires with the highest and lowest gender pay gaps.
OECD countries offer the most job opportunities for international workers from developed economies. However, the gender gap across different countries can vary greately, so the below index can be used to check your ex-pat destination pays women what they deserve.
The countries with the largest gender pay gap
|
Rank |
Country |
Most Recent Year |
Gender Wage Gap (%) |
|
1 |
South Korea |
2021 |
31.06% |
|
2 |
Israel |
2019 |
24.32% |
|
3 |
Latvia |
2019 |
23.22% |
|
4 |
Japan |
2021 |
22.11% |
|
5 |
Estonia |
2019 |
19.09% |
|
6 |
United States |
2021 |
16.86% |
|
7 |
Canada |
2021 |
16.67% |
|
8 |
Finland |
2020 |
15.98% |
|
9 |
Cyprus |
2019 |
15.61% |
|
10 |
United Kingdom |
2021 |
14.35% |
South Korea has the largest pay gap of all the OECD nations at 31.06%. South Korean society is very different from typical western culture, placing a strong emphasis on tradition, family, and group harmony. With more traditional attitudes towards the roles that people play in society, the country still lags behind in closing the gender pay gap and achieving equal pay. That said, South Korea is a very popular destination for ex-pats, many of whom become English teachers, one of the most common jobs available for native English speakers.
Israel is the country with the second largest gender pay gap at 24.32%. The largest cities in the country are Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, which is where you’ll find most of the jobs available for ex-pats. Israel is popular both as a party destination and for the area’s historical and religious sites.
The third largest gender pay gap of 23.22% can be found in Latvia. While this Baltic country might not be the best in terms of equal pay, it is another very popular destination for ex-pat workers and offers a competitively low cost of living. The capital city of Riga is where you’ll find most of the international jobs, as well as friendly ex-pat communities to help you settle in.
The countries with the most equal pay
|
Rank |
Country |
Most Recent Year |
Gender Wage Gap (%) |
|
1 |
Romania |
2019 |
0.88% |
|
2 |
Bulgaria |
2020 |
2.55% |
|
3 |
Belgium |
2019 |
3.80% |
|
4 |
Colombia |
2019 |
4.00% |
|
5 |
Norway |
2021 |
4.60% |
|
6 |
Costa Rica |
2018 |
4.73% |
|
7 |
Denmark |
2020 |
4.99% |
|
8 |
Ireland |
2019 |
5.17% |
|
9 |
Argentina |
2021 |
6.25% |
|
10 |
Mexico |
2021 |
6.67% |
Romania is the country with the smallest gender pay gap at just 0.88%, making the country a great place for women in the workplace. Plenty of English-speaking job opportunities exist in the country’s capital and largest city, Bucharest, which is also a beautiful place to visit, steeped in rich history and brilliant architecture.
Bulgaria has the second smallest gender pay gap in the OECD at 2.55%, while also being the second Eastern European country to make the list. Bulgaria is a large Balkan country with a relatively small population and a low cost of living, meaning it could be the perfect destination for ex-pats who want their equal pay to go even further. The capital Sofia is the best place to start looking for ex-pat jobs, while also being a fantastic place to visit as a tourist.
Belgium is the country with the third lowest pay gap in our study at 3.80%. Home to the de facto capital of the European Union, Brussels, Belgium has many English-speaking jobs available. This Northern European country is also connected to the Eurostar, making travel to the UK incredibly easy, while also having excellent transport links to neighboring European countries.