This report from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) analyzes women’s entrepreneurial participation across 49 economies, drawing on population surveys and national expert assessments. It examines gender gaps in business start-up rates, access to finance, sector participation, innovation levels, and perceptions of entrepreneurial capability. The report highlights how persistent biases and structural barriers—including stereotypes around leadership and risk-taking—shape women’s business activity and growth trajectories. It also explores regional variations and identifies enabling policy and ecosystem conditions that support women entrepreneurs. By providing comparative, cross-country data and longitudinal trends, the report offers evidence for policymakers, investors, and ecosystem actors seeking to design more inclusive entrepreneurship and finance systems. It underscores that addressing bias and structural inequities is essential for unlocking women’s full economic participation and scaling gender-responsive investment strategies.