Egypt’s Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), affiliated with the Cabinet, has released a new report featuring local and international public opinion surveys examining perceptions of women’s roles, rights, and social status in Egypt and around the world.
The report highlighted the central role women play in social development, emphasizing their contributions across education, family life, leadership, and economic growth, alongside their role as equal partners in sustainable development.
According to a local survey conducted by the IDSC between March 3 and March 25 on a sample of Egyptian citizens aged 18 and above, 81% of respondents rejected the idea that “girls’ marriage is more important than completing university education.” Opposition to the statement was significantly higher among women at 91%, compared to 71% among men.
The survey also found that 75% of respondents believe Egyptian women receive all or some of their rights within society, with the percentage rising among men (82%) compared to women (68%).
Meanwhile, 54% of participants said there is equality between men and women regarding promotion opportunities at work, while 70% supported women assuming leadership positions on equal footing with men.
Regarding family-related social perceptions, 31% of women and 30% of men considered the appropriate age for girls’ marriage to be between 21 and under 25 years old. Additionally, 27% of women and 28% of men believed 25 is the ideal age for men to marry.
The survey further revealed that 57% of respondents believe lower living and cultural standards within families can contribute to domestic violence. Only 23% said they were aware of the women’s complaints hotline.
In addition, 41% of respondents acknowledged the existence of early marriage in Egyptian society, including 44% of women and 38% of men.
The report also highlighted concerns over social media content, with 70% of respondents believing that women’s participation in content creation across platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube sometimes presents Egyptian women in a negative light. The percentage was notably higher among men (79%) compared to women (63%).
Alongside the Egyptian findings, the report reviewed several international studies on gender equality and women’s rights.
A global survey conducted by the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research across 44 countries between November 2025 and February 2026 found that 66% of respondents believe equality between men and women has been achieved in the workplace. However, women were less likely to agree with this statement (61%) compared to men (71%).
The same survey found that 71% believe gender equality has been achieved within family life at home, while 59% of Europeans surveyed said equality in political participation has already been achieved in their countries.
Another international survey conducted by Ipsos across 29 countries revealed that 52% of respondents believe women in their countries have already achieved sufficient equal rights with men. Thailand ranked first at 81%, followed by Indonesia at 78%, and India at 69%.
Additionally, 60% of respondents globally agreed that societies would improve if more women held leadership positions in governments and companies.
The report also cited findings from GeoPoll across Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, where 64% of respondents said their societies generally provide equal opportunities for men and women. In Egypt specifically, 50.57% of employees surveyed said gender equality exists in the workplace.
According to the same African survey, 82% of respondents agreed that women should have equal inheritance rights as men, while 79% stressed that justice and fairness should remain the top priority for governments and organizations seeking to achieve gender equality.
