March 8 is International Women’s Day, an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the social and economic progress of women’s rights in Canada.
At the same time, it is important to also recognize the areas in which gender inequalities still exist. The gender wage gap, for instance, illustrates how women continue to encounter more barriers compared with men.
Average hourly gender wage gap among employees has narrowed since the late 1990s, but not disappeared
In 2025, women aged 15 years and older earned, on average, 88 cents for every dollar earned by men, up from 82 cents in 1997.
A similar pattern is observed among workers aged 25 to 54 years—often considered prime earning years—with women earning 89 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2025, up from 81 cents in 1997.
Wage gaps are wider for racialized and Indigenous women
Not all women have the same earnings experiences.
While the wage gap between non-Indigenous, non-racialized women and men aged 15 years and older in Canada was about 12 cents in 2025—with women earning 88 cents per dollar earned by men—racialized women faced an even greater disparity. They earned 22 cents less per hour than non-Indigenous, non-racialized men, amounting to 78 cents per dollar earned by these men.
Indigenous women earned 21 cents less per hour than non-Indigenous, non-racialized men in 2025, amounting to 79 cents for each dollar earned by these men.
Ratio of the average hourly wages of different groups of women relative to those of non-Indigenous and non-racialized men, by age group, 2025
Description - Ratio of the average hourly wages of different groups of women relative to those of non-Indigenous and non-racialized men, by age group, 2025
This table shows the ratio of the average hourly wages of women relative to non-Indigenous and non-racialized men in 2025, expressed in cents per dollar earned by the reference group. Two age groups are presented: women aged 15 years or older and women aged 25 to 54 years.
Among non-Indigenous and non-racialized women, the ratios are 88 cents for women aged 15 years or older and 89 cents for those aged 25 to 54. Among Indigenous women, the ratios are 79 cents and 80 cents, respectively. Among racialized women, the ratios are 78 cents and 77 cents. Average hourly wages include tips and commissions and exclude the self-employed.
Note(s): Average hourly wages include wages for all currently employed employees, whether working full-time or part-time. Self-employed persons are excluded. Average hourly wages include tips and commissions. The wage gap is expressed as the ratio of the average hourly wages of the comparison group to that of the baseline group. The baseline group for the purposes of this table is non-Indigenous, non-racialized men.
Source(s): Labour Force Survey (3701), custom tabulation.
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).