Women Entrepreneurs in Europe: Data, Barriers, and Recommendations for Support
The Missing Entrepreneurs
A new report published on the 19th of June 2026 by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) shows that women remain underrepresented in entrepreneurship across Europe.
In 2023, around 9 million women in the EU were engaged in early-stage entrepreneurial activity. The corresponding figure for men was 13 million. The report estimates that Europe is missing around 4 million women entrepreneurs. Women account for 33% of the entrepreneurial population, a share that has changed little over the last decade.
The report argues that this gap has long-term consequences. Lower participation in early-stage entrepreneurship means that the same trajectory is true among owners of established businesses as well.
Skills and Perceptions
The data shows that women entrepreneurs are, on average, more highly educated than men. 48% of women entrepreneurs have completed tertiary education, compared with 34% of men.
At the same time, women are less likely to believe that they have the skills and experience needed to start a business. 42% of women report confidence in their entrepreneurial capabilities, compared with 55% of men. Fear of failure is also more common among women, with 53% identifying it as a barrier to entrepreneurship.
The report suggests that these differences are linked both to perceptions of competence and to unequal access to entrepreneurial training and experience.
Structural Barriers
The report documents several barriers that shape women’s entrepreneurial opportunities. Access to finance remains uneven, and care responsibilities continue to fall disproportionately on women. The report also identifies regulatory obstacles, gender stereotypes, and limited networking opportunities.
These barriers accumulate over time. Women are more likely to work as solo entrepreneurs and more likely to operate businesses on a part-time basis. They are also less represented in high-growth companies and innovative firms.
Sectoral patterns reinforce these differences. Women entrepreneurs are concentrated in education and health, while sectors such as construction and transport remain heavily dominated by men.
Implications for Policy
The report concludes with five recommendations. It calls for measures that improve access to finance, strengthen the institutional environment, support entrepreneurial skills and confidence, expand networks and improve the collection of data on women entrepreneurs.
The findings point to a broader issue for European competitiveness. The question is not whether women have the capacity to become entrepreneurs. The data shows that many already do. The challenge is whether Europe’s entrepreneurial ecosystems provide the conditions that allow more women to start businesses and develop them over time.
