Top 15 Countries for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025
As we move into 2025, female entrepreneurship in Europe is on the rise. Various countries are paving the way for women to start and grow their businesses through supportive policies, a strong ecosystem, and cultural acceptance. Here is a detailed look at the Top 15 Countries for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe in 2025, based on recent data and trends.
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1. Poland
Ranking: Ranked 5th globally and 1st in the EU for female entrepreneurs according to the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (2020).
Institutional Support: There has been a significant increase (50% compared to 2019) in institutional support for small and medium-sized enterprises by the government.
Cultural Perception: A positive cultural shift is occurring in the perception of entrepreneurship as a viable career for women.
Work Environment: Poland features a great working environment for women, as reflected by its ranking in The Economist's Glass-Ceiling Index, where it surpasses the UK, US, and Germany.
2. Sweden
Ranking: Sweden is ranked 8th globally for female entrepreneurs (Mastercard Index, 2020).
Gender Pay Gap: The country boasts one of the lowest gender pay gaps in Europe at 28.8%.
Female Employment: The female employment rate stands at an impressive 60.8%.
General Equality: Sweden is widely recognized for its strong focus on gender equality and comprehensive supportive policies for women in business.
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3. Spain
Ranking: Spain holds the 10th position globally for female entrepreneurs (Mastercard Index, 2020).
Support Network: Organizations like MumAbroad offer significant support to female entrepreneurs, creating a nurturing local environment.
Entrepreneurial Activity: The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor highlights that fear of failure can impact women's willingness to start new businesses in Spain.
EU Support: The country benefits from various European Union initiatives aimed at promoting women's entrepreneurship.
4. France
Ranking: France has a historical reputation as a strong performer in women's entrepreneurship rankings.
Government Support: The French government provides strong support for startups and tech initiatives, including specific incentives for women entrepreneurs.
Tech Ecosystem: Paris has a thriving tech ecosystem, attracting talent and investment crucial for startups.
EU Initiatives: France also benefits from numerous EU-wide programs aimed at supporting women-led businesses.
5. Germany
Billionaires: Germany is home to approximately 12.5% of the world's female billionaires, demonstrating a robust entrepreneurial background for women.
Support Network: Initiatives like MumAbroad also provide vital support to female entrepreneurs in Germany.
Economic Stability: With a strong economy and a central geographical position in Europe, Germany is attractive for entrepreneurial ventures.
Tech Hub: It has a vibrant startup scene, particularly in cities like Berlin and Munich.
6. United Kingdom
Financial Infrastructure: The UK boasts a strong financial infrastructure alongside access to global markets.
Low Corporate Tax: A relatively low corporate tax rate (19%) facilitates startup growth.
Startup Hub: London serves as a leading startup hub, equipped with extensive resources for entrepreneurs.
7. Netherlands
Equal Distribution: The Netherlands features one of the most equal distributions of early-stage entrepreneurs by gender in Europe.
Business Friendly: The environment is highly business-friendly with excellent infrastructure to support startups.
Access to EU Markets: The country’s central location offers strong access to European markets, making it ideal for entrepreneurs.
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8. Iceland
Female Employment: Iceland has the highest female employment rate in Europe at 72.5%.
Career Advancement: The country leads in promoting women's career advancement, evidenced by a high index score.
Wage Equality: Iceland holds the second-highest position for wage equality in Europe.
9. Finland
Career Progression: Finland boasts the second-highest index score for female career progression in Europe.
Female Leadership: The country has a strong tradition of female leadership across various sectors.
10. Norway
Gender Pay Gap: Norway enjoys one of the lowest gender pay gaps in Europe, currently at 25.9%.
Female Employment: The female employment rate is again notable at 60.8%.
Career Advancement: Norway earns a high score in promoting female career progression.
11. Switzerland
Investment Culture: Switzerland has a strong culture of investment in startups, especially female-led businesses.
Ecosystem Support: The entrepreneurial ecosystem includes multiple platforms and organizations that facilitate women's participation in various sectors.
12. Belgium
Government Programs: Belgium's government actively promotes female entrepreneurship through various funding programs and networking opportunities.
Community Support: The country has vibrant community networks that focus on providing mentorship and resources to aspiring female entrepreneurs.
13. Portugal
Organizational Support: Organizations like FWomen support female-led startups and offer resources for women entrepreneurs.
Startup Growth: Portugal has seen an increase in the number of female entrepreneurs due to supportive government policies and a growing tech scene.
14. Ireland
Access to Resources: Ireland has various government initiatives aimed at enhancing resource access for female entrepreneurs.
Vibrant Tech Sector: The tech sector is booming, providing numerous opportunities for women-led startups.
15. Austria
Women's Networks: Austria features numerous networks and organizations dedicated to promoting female entrepreneurship.
Supportive Environment: The government offers grants and funding specifically for women-led businesses.
This list highlights the dynamic ecosystem for female entrepreneurship across Europe based on various metrics and support structures tailored to their success.
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FAQ
Q: Which country in Europe ranks highest for female entrepreneurs?
A: Poland ranks 5th globally and 1st in the EU for female entrepreneurs, showing significant growth in institutional support for women-led businesses. Learn more about Poland’s ranking.
Q: How is Sweden supporting female entrepreneurs?
A: Sweden ranks 8th globally for female entrepreneurs and boasts one of the lowest gender pay gaps and a high female employment rate, reflecting a strong commitment to gender equality. Discover more about Sweden’s efforts.
Q: What initiatives are in place for female entrepreneurs in Spain?
A: Spain is ranked 10th globally and benefits from supportive networks like MumAbroad, alongside EU initiatives aimed at boosting women's entrepreneurship. Check out Spain's initiatives.
Q: How does France support female entrepreneurship?
A: France has strong governmental support for startups and technology, providing specific incentives for women entrepreneurs, along with a thriving tech ecosystem in Paris. Read more about France's support.
Q: What is notable about women entrepreneurs in Germany?
A: Germany is home to 12.5% of the world’s female billionaires and has a vibrant startup scene, especially in Berlin and Munich, making it a supportive environment for female entrepreneurs. Learn more about Germany.
Q: What are the entrepreneurial prospects in the United Kingdom for women?
A: The United Kingdom offers a strong financial infrastructure with a low corporate tax rate, making it an attractive hub for women entrepreneurs in cities like London. Discover more about the UK.
Q: Why is the Netherlands significant for female entrepreneurs?
A: The Netherlands features one of the most equal distributions of early-stage entrepreneurs by gender in Europe, alongside a business-friendly environment. Explore more about the Netherlands.
Q: What makes Iceland a leader in female employment?
A: Iceland boasts the highest female employment rate in Europe and is committed to fostering women's career advancement, alongside wage equality initiatives. Read more about Iceland’s advantages.
Q: What is Finland's contribution to female entrepreneurship?
A: Finland ranks high for female career progression and has a strong history of female leadership, showing a favorable environment for women in business. Learn more about Finland’s contributions.
Q: How does Norway support female entrepreneurs?
A: With one of the lowest gender pay gaps in Europe, Norway maintains high female employment rates and fosters career advancement opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Discover more about Norway's policies.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
