The special report presented in Madrid on 10 November 2026 “Evolución del emprendimiento de las mujeres en España 2015-2025” of Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) España in cooperation with GIRA Mujeres documents a significant rise in women’s intention to start businesses. According to the report, 12.8 per cent of women aged 18 to 64 said they planned to start a business within the next three years; in 2015, the figure was 5.8 per cent. This means the intention more than doubled in a decade.
However, the trend is not uniform across all stages: among businesses operating for up to 3.5 years, the proportion of women rose from 5.0 per cent (2015) to 7.2 per cent (2025). In the segment of longer-established businesses, the proportion fell slightly from 6.3 per cent to 5.9 per cent. The report’s authors emphasise that the momentum is concentrated mainly in the early stages of the business-starting process, while women continue to find it harder to consolidate more mature businesses.
Demographically, a clear pattern emerges: younger women entrepreneurs (under 35) account for the largest share of newer ventures, while women over 44 predominate among established businesses. Geographically, activity is concentrated in urban areas: around 84 per cent of the most recent initiatives are launched in an urban setting.
In their analysis, the authors conclude that increased motivation does not automatically translate into more businesses that remain firmly established over the long term. Barriers cited include limited access to finance, a lack of networks and difficulties balancing paid work with care responsibilities. The report recommends supplementing existing support for early-stage businesses with measures to help them scale and secure long-term finance, such as targeted mentoring programmes, better terms for loans and equity investment, and administrative simplifications during growth phases.
The figures presented provide an empirical basis for policy measures to support women entrepreneurs in Spain, particularly in moving from the intention to start a business to sustainable business management.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).