Purpose This study examines how gender equality (SDG 5) contributes to sustainable development by analysing its interlinkages with other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in European Union (EU) member states. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative comparative design is used, drawing on data from the 2024 United Nations SDG Report and the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Index. Spearman's rank-order correlation assesses the association between SDG 5 and the remaining 16 SDGs across the 27 EU countries. Findings Gender equality is positively associated with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), indicating that more gender-equal societies tend to exhibit stronger institutional quality, innovation capacity, and policy coordination. Negative relationships with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) point to potential tensions between social inclusion and environmental performance. Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional design limits causal inference, and findings are specific to the EU context. Further research could examine causal mechanisms and regional variations in policy. Practical implications The findings highlight the need for integrated policy approaches that embed gender equality within sustainability strategies while addressing trade-offs between social and environmental goals. Social implications Strengthening gender equality can contribute to more resilient and socially just sustainability transitions across the EU. Originality/value The study provides empirical evidence on how gender equality relates to broader sustainability outcomes, offering insights for more coherent, gender-responsive policy design.
Maya et al. (Mon,) studied this question.