With the OECD sharing that self-reported discrimination rates have risen in most EU countries, let’s look at some of the key findings in their report.
On the 10th July, the OECD published a new report, Combatting Discrimination in the European Union. The report contains data from the OECD’s Anti-Discrimination Questionnaire along with information about the nature and impact of discrimination and the OECD EU countries’ laws and policies. The report is also a contributor to the aims of the OECD Observatory on Social Mobility and Equal Opportunity. 1
The OECD notes that, ‘Despite concerted efforts to combat discrimination since the introduction of the Union of Equality in 2019, self-reported discrimination rates have risen in most European Union (EU) countries.’
Key findings from the report
So, just how much have these rates of self-reported discrimination risen by? From 2019 to 2023, the self-reporting average has risen by 6% (from 15% to 21%). Which explains why in the report’s foreword, the OECD described discrimination as ‘prevalent and pressing’. 1
Here are some other key statistics:
- Over half of LGBTQI people, people with disabilities and those from racial and religious minorities, experienced discrimination in the past year (compared to less than 20% of non-minority groups)
- Transgender and intersex people reported the highest levels of discrimination at an average of 80% across the EU
- Rates of discrimination increased largely from 2019 to 2023 for LGBTQI people (57% to 61%) minority ethnicity groups (41% to 60%) or based on skin colour (52% to 61%)
- Young people (under 35) self-reported more discrimination than older people (55 years and over)
- Women experienced more discrimination than men (25% compared to 18%) with a large increase of self-reporting rates for women of8% from 2019
- Women experienced more multiple instances of discrimination, particularly those with intersectional risk factors, such as women from racial minorities or whom are bisexual
- Men also had increased rates of discrimination since 2019 (of 5%)
- The average employment rate for people with disabilities is 53% and for women and young people with disabilities this is even lower at 49% and 47%
- Almost 1 in 3 people from ethnic, racial and religious minorities state they experience discrimination most or all of the time
- 77% of people who reported experiencing discrimination are worried about financial security (compared to 68% who haven’t experienced discrimination)
- Individuals who have experienced discrimination are almost three times as likely to report mental health issues 1
References
- OECD (2025) ‘Combatting Discrimination in the European Union’. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/combatting-discrimination-in-the-european-union_29c2c36a-en.html (Accessed: 14 July 2025)
