1,68 million women entrepreneurs: Italy leads Europe by 2025
Italy has more women entrepreneurs than any other EU country. New figures show 1.678 million women running businesses in the first nine months of 2025. Yet despite this leading position, the country still has the lowest overall female employment rate in Europe.
The number of women entrepreneurs in Italy has climbed steadily. In 2024, the total reached 1.621 million—the highest in the EU. By 2025, that figure grew by 2.7%, averaging 1.678 million in the first three quarters.
Italy’s female entrepreneurs now make up 16% of all employed women in the country. This growth rate is more than double that of male entrepreneurship. The peak year for women-led businesses was 2018, though numbers have continued to rise since. The country outperforms other major EU economies. It has more women entrepreneurs than France (1.531 million), Germany (1.222 million), and Spain (1.136 million). Yet despite this strong entrepreneurial activity, Italy still struggles with the EU’s lowest overall female employment rate.
Italy remains at the top of Europe’s rankings for women entrepreneurs. The latest data confirms steady growth, with numbers rising faster than those of male entrepreneurs. However, the gap between entrepreneurial success and broader employment rates persists.
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