The fifth-smallest nation in the world San Marino has made commendable progress on narrowing the gender wage gap in recent years. In 2025, the United Nations (UN) praised the nation’s initiatives to balance the labor force and tighten the gender wage gap across the region.

The gender wage gap in San Marino forms part of a larger trend of gender discrimination in the country. In the past, these issues have arisen from violence towards women and an educational curriculum that did not place enough emphasis on gender equality and human rights. Furthermore, men make up 73% of management positions in San Marino. This statistic reinforces how the female workforce is underrepresented in positions of authority – a narrative the country is striving to change.

Engulfed by the Italian mainland, the tightly knit community of San Marino have experienced a wave of changes in relation to gender legislation. Policies which range from education to a revised government office have positively impacted the lives of female citizens working in their country of origin. Here are three ways in which the contributions of both government and international organizations have helped to reduce the gender wage gap in San Marino.

Bolstering and Empowering the Female Workforce

In order to balance the female labor force, the government of San Marino has actively provided incentives to employers with regards to their hiring policy. The government significantly reduced taxation costs on female workers to increase the number of women in full time employment. 

Employers also made provisions to accommodate female needs in the workplace. These hinge around the conditions surrounding maternity leave. If a female worker had given birth to a child, she now has the option to accept a part time contract in order to balance family responsibilities. This choice has provided female employees with a degree of economic stability.

Furthermore, there are developed plans for a new Office of the Ombudsman to be implemented in 2026. This office provides an outlet where workers can raise issues which have arisen at the workplace including ‘combatting discrimination.’ This political initiative grants women an opportunity to question matters regarding their wage and all aspects of their working environment.

Long-Term Financial Transparency and Security

With data scarcely published on the gender wage gap in San Marino, recent developments to showcase financial transparency statistics ensure that international organizations can monitor the progress being made. In 2002, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) placed San Marino on the ‘grey list’ for not publicly sharing data collated on tax information. Fast forward to 2025, San Marino is successfully complying with the demands that the OECD expects and is no longer on the list. These measures ensure that San Marino regularly and publicly shares its financial information, which changes its previous connotations with an unwillingness to cooperate.

Denouncing Gender Based Discrimination

The wider narrative of government gender based policy importantly highlights a shift towards improving the working environment for women in San Marino. The government is currently processing a bill which provides women under the age of 35 with the guidance to start their own e-business. These legislative measures aim to provide women with the appropriate support previously received by their male counterparts.

On an institutional level, educational reforms have also contributed to a broader notion of gender equality in San Marino. An open exhibition, which featured the works of primary and secondary school children, was made accessible to the general public on the ‘fight against violence against women’ in 2025. In addition to this showcase, the University of San Marino has introduced higher educational modules addressing gender based issues and patterns of discrimination. These public initiatives highlight a government priority placed on promoting gender equality.

Looking Ahead

Despite the nation attracting little attention from global media outlets, it is important to recognize the measures that are occurring to improve the gender wage gap in San Marino. Regular discussions with international organizations have ensured that women working in San Marino have received financial support in relation to maternity. Widespread reforms in both the educational and employment sectors highlight the nation’s efforts to combat unequal pay and wider discriminatory practices. San Marino’s recent commitments to gender based policy reinforces how tackling the gender pay gap is a global issue no matter the size of a country’s population.

– Ash Fowkes-Gajan

Ash is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

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